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Welcome
to the Fall 2016 Minneapolis Sustainability Update. As the holiday
seasons approach, there are some great ways that you can save energy and reduce
waste while celebrating with family and friends. This quarterly newsletter
contains information on resources, initiatives and opportunities to get
involved in sustainability this season.
Be sure to check out the Minnesota Department of
Commerce’s energy saving tips to save energy and money as temperatures drop!
While funding lasts, the City of Minneapolis
offers Minneapolis residents 0% financing on energy-saving upgrades recommended
by Home Energy Squad experts. Home Energy Squad visits are $70, or free to
income-qualified Minneapolis residents including renters. More than 9,000 households have already benefitted from
the program. Homeowners and renters can call 612-335-5874 or visit https://www.mncee.org/hes/minneapolis/ to schedule a
visit and learn more about 0% financing. For more information, please visit the
City’s website.
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With over 85% of required
properties having successfully benchmarked and submitted 2015 building energy
performance data, it is time to celebrate! The Building Energy Challenge
Awards will highlight buildings striving to meet a 15% greenhouse gas emission
reduction target and recognize progress toward the goal. Six of the most
efficient buildings in the city will receive Building Energy Performance Awards
in three categories: Business, Arts/Community/Education, and Hotel/Recreation.
When: Nov. 2nd, 3:30-4:30pm
Where: Minneapolis City Hall Rotunda
Public
invited, Register today!
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 How energy efficient are
large commercial buildings throughout the city? Is my building one of the
highest performing? You can answer these questions and more via the 2015
Minneapolis Energy Benchmarking Results Map. Explore ENERGY STAR scores,
compare energy use per square foot, and learn about peer buildings through this
new, interactive map!
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 With
a score of 79, the Colwell Building in the North Loop neighborhood is
Minneapolis' newest ENERGY STAR certified building. Gretchen Lundberg, who was
in charge of the building’s application, says that for Minneapolis office
buildings, certification is a must, “Prospective tenants ask if we’re LEED or
ENERGY STAR certified.” Now, she can answer that question with an emphatic
‘yes!’
Taking advantage of the Minneapolis ENERGY STAR
Certification Grant Program, Gretchen explains just how easy the certification
process was. Read more,
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Do
you have an energy efficient building with an ENERGY STAR score greater than
75? The world deserves to know (and you deserve the credit!). Buildings
with ENERGY STAR certification typically use 35% less energy, cost $0.54 less per
square foot to operate, and have higher rental and occupancy rates.
Buildings with a score of 75 or greater are eligible for certification,
and what's more, the City of Minneapolis is offering grants to cover more than
60% of the required site visit cost for certification. Buildings pay only
$300.
The City of Minneapolis ENERGY STAR certification
grants are limited, click here to learn more!
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Minneapolis has been designated “SolSmart Gold” by the U.S. Department of
Energy for making it faster, easier and cheaper to go solar. In 2015, there
were a record 95 new solar installations in the city. Are you ready to make the
switch? Learn more at http://bit.ly/2dmwwN1.
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The City of Minneapolis is proud to be
recognized by the Minnesota Department of Commerce as a finalist for the Clean
Energy Community Award. Our first-in-the-nation City-utility Clean Energy
Partnership with Xcel Energy and Center Point Energy is instrumental in
supporting the City’s Climate Action Plan and Energy Vision for 2040. Learn more at:
https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/efficiency/cec.jsp
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Make your voice heard! Join us at
one of these family-friendly, interactive open houses. You will have the opportunity to
share feedback with city planners and engage with artists to plan for the
future development of Minneapolis. Enjoy complimentary refreshments from local
vendors. Dates and times:
Tuesday, Oct. 25th
5:00-7:30pm at Midtown Global Mark(920 E. Lake
Street Minneapolis, MN 55407)
Thursday Oct. 27
5:00-7:30pm at North Commons Park
(1801 James Ave N Minneapolis, MN 55411)
The
next Green Zones Workgroup meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 15 from 5:00-7:00pm at the Center For Changing
Lives in Conference Room 182. The Center For Changing Lives is located at 2400
Park Ave S, Minneapolis. The agenda will include reviewing maps for Green Zones
criteria and discussing other place-based initiatives in Minneapolis. This
meeting is open to the public. See the Green Zone Workgroup
agendas and meetings page for more information about past meetings.
Thursday,
December 1 | 6:30-8:00 pm, registration open at 6:00
Seward
Montessori, 2309 28th Avenue South (map)
REGISTER
ONLINE (RSVP
encouraged, but not required)
Please join
the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council in celebrating another year of
growing, processing, distributing, eating and composting healthy, sustainable,
locally grown foods. The event will begin with an information fair and
reception, including opportunities to provide feedback to the Food Council on
local food policy priorities. Light refreshments will be served.
To learn more about the Annual Open , visit the Homegrown
Minneapolis website and
find out more about submitting
a nomination
for a "Homegrown Heroes" award (Deadline: November
1st) or signing
up to table at
the information fair (Deadline: November 6th)
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During the week of Nov. 14, your
weekly garbage day is the last 2016
collection date for leaves, brush and other yard trimmings. Yard waste must be
in compostable bags – paper (Kraft) or compostable plastic – or unbagged in a
reusable container at least 26 inches high with sturdy handles. Yard waste is
not allowed in City-provided containers. Set all yard waste next to your
garbage cart by 6 a.m.
Leaves
Brush
- Less
than 40 pounds.
- Less
than three feet long.
- Branch
size less than three inches in diameter.
- Must
be bundled with string (no tape).
Remember, it’s against the law
and bad for our waters to rake leaves into the street.
Anything that goes down a storm drain flows directly into our lakes and river,
and decomposing plant material in the water encourages the growth of harmful
aquatic plants and algae.
If you have questions about
leaf and brush pickup, call 673-2917 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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Forty percent of
Minneapolis residents have opted to recycle organics! This incredible
accomplishment is the result of the City’s efforts to collect food scraps,
coffee grounds, meat trimmings, paper towels and more. It's not too late to sign up! If you are a
Minneapolis resident interested in recycling organics, sign up here.
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 After Halloween is
over, place your pumpkins in your green organics recycling cart. Take out candles or their metal holders first,
and remember that pumpkins with paint or glitter on them cannot be composted.
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If
you’re passionate about recycling and waste reduction, sign up to be a
recycling block leader and help educate your neighbors on waste reduction,
reuse, recycling, organics recycling and more! More information on
responsibilities and sign up can be found here. |
 Get household items like small
appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices, and other gadgets fixed for
free and learn valuable repair skills at an upcoming Fix-It Clinic! Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are
scheduled for the following dates and locations:
Saturday, November 12, noon to 4 p.m. at Wayzata City Hall, 600 Rice Street E,
Wayzata
Sunday December 11, noon to 4 p.m. at Grace
Center for Community Life, 1500 6th St NE, Minneapolis
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The City of Minneapolis offers news and updates on a wide variety of topics, including:
- City Council ward updates and meeting information
- Mayor's Office updates
- Board and Commission openings and meeting updates
- News related to transportation projects, equity initiatives, environmental health, and more
You can subscribe to as many or as few topics as you prefer. Simply visit the City's Email Subscriptions page, enter your email address, and click Submit. You will then have the opportunity to select the updates you choose.
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