 |
|
Windsource® is a program that allows customers to voluntarily sign up to pay slightly more on their electricity bill to receive some or all of their energy from Minnesota generated wind energy, which is beyond the state’s renewable energy production requirements for Xcel Energy.
Minneapolis customers have consistently made up approximately 20% of Xcel Energy’s total Minnesota Windsource subscriptions from 2012- 2015.
Your Windsource subscription is added right to your Xcel Energy bill, making it easy to go green.
Sign up today!
|
|
The City of Minneapolis is once again working with Tree Trust (a local non-profit organization) to provide about 1,000 trees to Minneapolis property owners at the cost of only $25.
Due to such popular demand in years past, this year the City Tree program will be administered by lottery.
How does the program work?
- Starting Monday, March 13 and running through Monday, March 20 you will be able to register your property address for the lottery at the Tree Trust website.
- All registrations received during that time will be put into the lottery drawing, so you can register anytime during those days. The day and time you register will have no bearing on your chance of being selected in the lottery drawing.
- Only one tree is allowed per property owner, regardless of number of properties you own.
- Choose from several varieties and sizes of trees, including fruit trees.
- All registrants will be notified of their status by March 22 and further details on the process will be provided at that time.
- Some Minneapolis businesses and non-profits qualify for free trees. To learn more, visit the Minneapolis Green Business page.
|
|
 |
 |
|
The Minnesota State Horticultural Society (MSHS) is launching its 2017 Garden-in-a-Box program. Garden-in-a-Box provides an opportunity for children and families in need to experience the benefits of gardening: affordable healthy food, outdoor activity, education, and community building. Organizations are invited to apply and partner with MSHS this upcoming growing season. To participate in the Garden-in-a-Box program, please complete and submit the application form. Applications will be accepted and approved on a rolling basis until April 21st, 2017.
|
 |
|
Become a Recycling
Block Leader and spread the word about recycling and waste
reduction on your block. Recycling Block Leaders will
receive email updates from the City and pass this information along to their
neighbors. Educational topics will change over time. The first
priority will be to encourage neighbors to participate in the organics
recycling program and to answer any questions they have on what’s acceptable
and what is not. Recycling block leaders can order
educational resources, like brochures, yard signs, and more, to distribute
to their neighbors. Click here to learn more about the Recycling Block Leader Program. |
There are ways that residents, community groups or
businesses can help keep the city clean. By adopting a litter container,
recycling container, or ash receptacle, Solid
Waste & Recycling will place the container at a location of your
choosing. Adopters agree to empty the container(s) when full. Bags
are provided by Solid Waste & Recycling at no cost. If you choose to
adopt a block or street, Solid Waste & Recycling will provide you with free bags and gloves to assist
with cleanup. If you can’t meet the commitment to maintain your block or
street for two years, you can request supplies for a one-time litter clean up
activity with friends, family, or community groups. Click here for more information
about Clean City programs. |
|
 |
 |
|
Spring is here! As the weather gets warmer you'll start to notice bees leaving their hives to search for food. You can support bees this season in the following two ways:
1. Provide a diverse array of plants to help ensure that you support a variety of bee species. Do your best to provide blooming flowers from April to September. Learn more about when and what to plant to support bees in Minnesota.
2. Avoid pesticides and pesticide-treated plants. Find more resources on protecting bees from pesticides here.
Read more about the City's commitment to protecting polinators in the Minneapolis Pollinator Resolution.
|
The Environmentally Acceptable Packaging Ordinance requires food and beverages prepared for immediate consumption and to-go must be placed in environmentally acceptable packaging. Recyclable materials must be recycled. Compostable plastics must be composted. Hennepin County provides grants to assist businesses with their recycling and composting efforts. Business recycling grant information can be found here.
Free Support for:
- Receptacle signage
- Program development
- Establishing collection set up
- Cost savings estimates
- Educational & promotional materials
Business grants are available to assist with:
- Program design
- Set-up
- Container purchasing
- Potential enclosure improvements
Through a strong program of influential speakers, robust conversations, interactive exhibits, and best-practices, this year’s conference reflects a central purpose to strengthen and diversify neighborhood and community organizations and to better connect residents to City resources. The conference program will include break-out sessions of 60-75 minutes, and the program will draw upon the City’s Core Principles of Community Engagement and International Association for Public Participation 2 principles.
Register here.
Date: Saturday, April 1, 2017 from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM (CDT)
Location: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Attend the 3rd National Adaptation Forum May 9-11,
2017 in Saint Paul, MN.
The Forum gathers the diverse adaptation community to foster
knowledge exchange, innovation and mutual support for a better tomorrow. The
2017 Forum will continue to engage practitioners from all 50 states, US
Territories, and international groups, representing climate justice, equity
leaders, all levels of government (local, state, federal, Tribal),
non-governmental organizations, community groups, businesses, and academia in
all sectors working to prepare for climate change. The Forum provides
adaptation resources, tools, and networking at the in-person convening, as well
as through on-going webinars. Early registration
is now open and will save you $100 if you register before April!
|
Learn how good business practices, good agricultural practices, and marketing are interconnected and can benefit your farm. While this FREE workshop will not result in you being "GAP certified", it will provide the information and resources necessary to help your farm prepare for a GAP audit. This workshop will help you develop your farm's food safety program and plan that will help you get an audit if desired. Space is limited. If the workshop fills you will be added to a waiting list.
Friday, March 31 | 9 am – 3 pm | UROC, 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis MN
Register here by March 20, 2017.
|
|
 |
 |
|
Everyone is welcome to join in the Arbor Day
festivities at Lake Hiawatha: tree planting, tree climbing, a nature play area,
food trucks, a beer garden, tree themed yard games, a trail run, an outreach
area, and more! An exciting part of our Arbor Day tree planting will include
establishing a fruit and nut tree orchard at Lake Hiawatha Park on the east
side of the lake in three newly established agricultural zones.
Click here to learn more.
Friday, April 28 | 4:00 - 8:00 pm | Lake Hiawatha Park, 2701
E 44th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
|
The Clean Energy Partnership adopted its 2017-2018 Work Plan (PDF), its second two-year plan, at the January 26th, 2017 Board Meeting.
This Work Plan describes Partnership activities for the upcoming biennium. It also discusses key strategies to guide the Partnership’s work, best practices, items for implementation of activities, and EVAC Work Groups which will work closely with the Planning Team on specific projects. Items in the Work Plan are organized under energy user “segments,” as follows:
- Residential, 1-4 unit
- Multi-family, 5+ unit
- Small Commercial, <50,000 square feet
- Large Commercial, >50,000 square feet
- City Enterprise
This 2017-2018 Work Plan should be viewed as a living and learning document that can adapt as progress is made or circumstances change.
 |
|
By the end of 2016, over 40
percent of eligible customers had signed up for the organics recycling program. In 2016, participating residents diverted more than 3,300 tons of
compostable materials. There’s no extra cost to have
organics picked up every week, but you have to sign up to receive a
cart. By participating in organics recycling,
customers may be able to reduce the number or size of their garbage cart(s)
which saves money on their City of Minneapolis utility bills. Don’t have City service? Bring organics to a drop-off
site near you. Click here for more information about organics recycling
or to sign up visit. |
A new
analysis of energy use for 417 public and commercial buildings in Minneapolis
reveals that they have the combined potential to save $27 million per year on
energy costs by increasing their energy efficiency to reduce consumption by 15
percent. They would also avoid more than 108,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas
emissions annually. The City of Minneapolis’ new report analyzed
the 2015 energy use of 264 commercial and 153 public properties that submitted
data to the City as required by the building energy benchmarking and transparency
ordinance. (Building owners had until June 2016 to submit data.) The buildings in the report account for more than 8.1 million mmbtu (million British thermal
units) of total energy use, which is the equivalent to roughly 60 percent of the households in the city. |
|
 |
 |
|
Sign up to receive an email every other week to remind you
of your recycling day. Reminders include information about holiday
schedules, yard waste, upcoming events, recycling tips, fun facts, and
more. Please note that Recycling Reminders are only for Minneapolis Solid
Waste & Recycling customers. Click here to sign up for Recycling Reminders. |
Minneapolis is one of 20 cities participating in the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (CNCA). With funding from the CNCA, the cities of Minneapolis, Boulder, CO and Seattle, WA hired Integral Group in 2016 to help the cities develop step-by-step strategies to transition towards zero emission, resilient, equitable, and decentralized energy systems. The CNCA Energy System Transformation Playbook, can be used as a guide for Minneapolis and other cities to achieve at least 80% greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2050. The Lower North Loop Energy System Transformation Strategy can be viewed as an example analysis of what it would take for a neighborhood in Minneapolis to eliminate GHG emissions from its energy system.
Looking for ways to continue to celebrate Earth Day after April 22nd? Try out these 7 tips to reduce your environmental footprint.
1. Reduce toxicity
Switch to green cleaning products or make your own.
2. Limit backyard fires
Burning wood can impact the health of your neighbors. Even an outdoor fire can affect the indoor air quality in your home.
3. Kick gas
Nearly half our air pollution comes from vehicles. Try walking, biking, or public transit instead.
4. Lead-free fishing
Lead, a toxic metal often found in fishing jigs and sinkers, has adverse effects on mammals and birds. Use sinkers and jigs made from non-poisonous materials.
5. Water wisely
Replace grass with native plants and when you do water, follow these tips.
6. Repair, not replace
Instead of trashing old household items, get them fixed. Hennepin County hosts fix-it clinics for residents to get items fixed for free and learn valuable repair skills.
7. Recycle, then buy recycled
Learn more about the hundreds of Minnesota businesses that make products from recycled materials.
Homegrown Minneapolis is a citywide initiative expanding our community's ability to grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods. Learn about upcoming events, resources and jobs by subscribing to the Homegrown Newsletter!
|
