 Rochester’s Healthy Home Helpers program, led by the City’s Sustainability Division, offers free, in-home assessments to help residents make their homes more energy-efficient and comfortable. During the assessment, participants receive a free Healthy Home kit (valued at over $120) along with personalized recommendations and simple, practical resources to lower energy use, improve indoor air quality, and reduce utility costs.
To sign-up for your Healthy Homes Assessment, fill out the Interest Form here.
 Picking up pet waste is a big deal! Pet waste left on the ground can wash into nearby storm drains and flow directly into local lakes, rivers, and streams without treatment. This waste adds excess nutrients to the water, which can contribute to algae blooms and make water unpleasant or unsafe for summer recreation.
Pet waste also contains harmful bacteria, including E. coli, that can impact water quality and threaten the health of people, pets, and wildlife.
Picking up pet waste is a simple way to be a responsible pet owner while helping protect water quality and public health. Help keep our waterways clean and our waters swimmable this summer by always picking up after your pet.
Learn more about how you can help protect local water quality at the City of Rochester - Stormwater's Website.
 Rochester residents, families, organizations, and businesses are invited to join the Adopt-a-Park Program and help keep local parks clean, safe, and welcoming.
Volunteers support their adopted park by picking up litter, reporting maintenance or safety concerns, and caring for shared outdoor spaces. The program is open to groups of all sizes and offers a meaningful way to give back while strengthening community connections.
Basic supplies, guidance, and trash disposal support are provided by Rochester Parks & Recreation. Recognition signs are available as an optional add-on.
Learn more and view available parks here or call Parks & Recreation at 507-328-2525.
 As summer temperatures rise, so can energy use. Rochester Public Utilities’ Conserve & Save™ program helps customers stay comfortable while reducing energy consumption through rebates on qualifying cooling equipment. Available rebates include air source heat pumps, central air conditioners, mini-split systems, and room air conditioners.
Upgrading to energy-efficient cooling equipment can help lower energy use, reduce utility costs, and improve home comfort during the hottest months of the year.
Whether you’re replacing aging equipment or planning a home improvement project, now is a great time to explore energy-saving options that benefit both your household and the environment. Visit the RPU website to learn more about available rebates, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.
 Give your lawn and garden a healthy boost with screened compost from the Olmsted County Compost Site! Made from locally collected yard waste, screened compost is compost that has been sifted to remove large sticks, rocks, and other debris, creating a fine, nutrient-rich material that's easy to spread in gardens and lawns. It helps improve soil health, retain moisture, and support healthy plant growth.
Self-serve compost is available daily during daylight hours. Bring your own shovel and containers. Suggested donations help support Compost Site operations (not funded by property taxes).
Visit the Olmsted County Compost Site webpage to learn more about compost benefits, donation suggestions, and location.
 After decades of industrial pollution, the St. Louis River estuary near Duluth is approaching a remarkable environmental milestone. Once heavily contaminated by industrial waste, toxic sediments, and other pollutants from more than a century of manufacturing activity, the river was designated a Great Lakes Area of Concern in 1987 due to severe environmental degradation.
Today, years of collaboration among federal, state, Tribal, local, and nonprofit partners have brought the river closer than ever to recovery. In May, officials announced the completion of all contaminated sediment cleanup projects on the Minnesota side of the St. Louis River Area of Concern. Since restoration efforts began, more than 1.9 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment have been addressed, and over 1,000 acres of habitat have been restored.
The cleanup has improved water quality, restored wildlife habitat, and helped reconnect communities to the river. Fish, birds, and native plants are returning to areas once considered too polluted to support healthy ecosystems. The restoration also highlights the power of long-term investment and partnership in addressing environmental challenges.
Read this article to learn more.
 Recent reporting shows that in Texas, solar power has at times generated more electricity than coal, marking a significant milestone in the state’s rapidly changing energy mix. This shift reflects the fast growth of utility-scale solar installations, supported by strong market demand, expanding transmission capacity, and increased deployment of battery storage to help balance supply and demand on the grid.
While this development occurred in Texas, it highlights broader national trends toward faster renewable energy deployment and a more diverse electricity system. Coal still plays a role in many regions of the U.S., but the increasing contribution of solar in a major energy-producing state demonstrates how quickly generation patterns are evolving.
For communities like Rochester, these trends are relevant because they influence the overall mix of electricity on the national grid over time. As renewable energy expands, local efforts around energy efficiency and electrification can work alongside a gradually cleaner grid to reduce emissions and support long-term sustainability goals.
Read this article to learn more.
- Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm (May-Sep) – Pata De Perro Public Bike Workshops. Learn how to repair your bike and/or obtain a bike of your own by purchasing or donating your time. More information and location can be found on Pata De Perro’s website.
- Saturdays from 7:30am-12:00pm – Saturday Farmers Market at Graham Park.
- Tuesdays (June-Oct) from 4-7pm – The Village Farmer’s Market at Cascade Lake Park.
- Sundays (June-Oct) from 2-6pm – The Village Global Market at MLK Park.
- April through November at Rochester Art Center – Spirit Trees Group Art Exhibition. "Spirit Trees" is a group exhibition that celebrates the many ways trees support life on this planet and their longstanding witness to human history. Learn more about the exhibit here.
- Wednesday, July 8 from 4:30-5:30pm – Animals on the Road with Eagle Bluff. Come to the Rochester Public Library to see live animals for an exciting, interactive learning experience led by a professional educator. Learn more here.
- Wednesday, July 15 from 10:30-11:00am – Nocturnal Animals Family Storytime. Come to the Rochester Public Library and enjoy a family storytime for children of all ages this summer; learn more here.
- Wednesday, July 29 from 4:30-5:30pm – Reptiles with Chester Woods Naturalists. Come to the Rochester Public Library to learn about a few amazing native cold-blooded critters. Learn more here.
- Wednesday, August 12 from 4:30-5:30pm – Meet an Owl with the Internation Owl Center. Come to the Rochester Public Library to learn first-hand about owl adaptations and seeing an owl with your own eyes! Learn more here.
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