Sustainable Built Environment Practices

In this webinar, presented live on April 14, 2022, we learned how you can more easily encourage sustainable building material management in your community.

Agenda

9:00 – Welcome & Introductions

9:10 – Built Environment overview; connections to other city & county plans
·  Melissa Wenzel, Built Environment Sustainability Administrator, MPCA
    o  Implementing best practices to meet climate, sustainability, and solid waste plan goals
·  Riley Gage, Administrative Manager | Policy Associate - Rethos Places Reimagined
    o   MN Main Streets, classes & workshops
·  Sandy Gunderson, Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Coordinator - Becker County
    o   Waste Diversion and Material Reuse Program

9:40 – Built Environment Best Practices & Waste Management Plan template
·       Melissa Wenzel, Built Environment Sustainability Administrator, MPCA

10:15 – Success stories and examples around Minnesota
·       Olivia Cashman, Environmental Protection Specialist, Hennepin County Environment & Energy
    o   Hennepin County & Ramsey County deconstruction grants
·       Monika Mann, Community and Economic Development Support Specialist, city of South St. Paul
    o   Old bank, new apartments
·       Risi Karim, GreenStep Cities Coordinator & Assistant to the City Administrator, city of Northfield
·       Emily Barker, Executive Director, ReUSE Minnesota
    o   How to host a “building material drop off day” event

11:00 – What YOU can do in your city & future developments
·       Melissa Wenzel, Built Environment Sustainability Administrator, MPCA
    o   How to choose and implement built environment best practices

11:15 – Q & A and Open Discussion

11:30 – Close

View the workshop recording: 

• See the Reuse Minnesota video: Building material collection events
• See the final 10 minutes of the workshop

View the PDF and additional materials: 

Resources: 

• Sustainable Building and Material Management, MPCA webpage
• Minnesota Main Streets - Rethos
• Rethos classes 
• Becker County Reuse Room
• Deconstruction Grants - Hennepin County, Ramsey County
• Hennepin County Climate Action Plan 
• Northfield Energy Action Team and Environmental Quality Commission
• Reuse Minnesota
• Reuse Ecosystem Map

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• BP 2 - Efficient Existing Private Buildings
• BP 5 - Building Redevelopment
• BP 15 - Sustainable Purchasing
• BP 18 - Parks and Trails
• BP 22 - Sustainable Consumption and Waste
• BP 24 - Benchmarks and Community Engagement
• BP 25 - Green Business Development
• BP 28 - Business Synergies and EcoDistricts
• BP 29 - Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.

Community Solar Subscriptions & Green Power Purchasing Programs

In this webinar, presented live on February 16, 2022, we learned all about city procurement for solar subscriptions and green power purchasing programs for your community. 

Agenda: 

9:00am - Welcome and Introductions

9:15 - Peter Lindstrom, CERTs Manager of Public Sector & Community Engagement - UMN Extension RSDP

• Overview of Community Solar Gardens and Green Power Purchasing options

9:25 - Timothy Denherder-Thomas, General Manager - Cooperative Energy Futures

9:45 - Jen McLoughlin, Sustainability Specialist - City of Woodbury

• Community Solar Gardens case study

10:10 - Travis Schmidt, General Manager - Moorhead Public Service

• City energy portfolio 
• Capture the Sun program
  
  

10:30 - Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs Statewide Director - UMN Extension RSDP

• Recent changes to and what's on the horizon for Community Solar Gardens and low income Minnesotans

10:45 - Q&A and Open Discussion

11:00am - Close

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials:

Resources:  

• Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs)
• Solar Gardens
• Green Pricing - buy renewable energy from your utility
• Tools & Guides
• Guide to Purchasing Green Power (2018, US DOE, EPA, WRI, CRS, NREL)
• Xcel Energy 
• Renewable Energy Programs (Renewable*Connect, Solar*Rewards, Windsource, etc.)
• Cooperative Energy Future - Community Solar
• Moorhead Capture the Wind Success Story (CERTs, 2004)
• City of Moorhead Sustainability
• Just Solar Coalition

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 15.2 - Purchase energy used by city government - via the municipal utility, green tags, community solar garden, 3rd party - with a higher renewable percentage than required by Minnesota law.
• 26.2 Promote resident/business purchases and/or generation of clean energy by:
• a. Promoting a local utility's green power purchasing program that allows residents/businesses to order/buy new renewable energy.
• b. Creating and sharing a map of the community’s solar resource and/or linking to the Minnesota Solar Suitability App.
• c. Connecting residents/businesses with the Solar Directory for potential installers.
• d. Hosting a community-wide solar bulk-buy program or campaign (also called "solarize" programs). 
• 26.4 Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community solar project by:
• a. Serving as a host site for a community solar garden.
• b. Facilitating development, by the municipal utility or other entity, of a community solar garden for residents.
• c. Participating in a community solar garden to ensure accessibility and availability to low-income residents.

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.

All About B3

In this webinar, presented live on January 19, 2022, we learned all about the Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) program. 

Agenda: 

9:00am - Welcome and Introductions
9:15am - B3 Benchmarking overview - Cheri Schneider, Willdan
|9:40am - Using B3 Benchmarking to track 12 buildings - Noelle Bakken, City of Roseville
9:55am - B3 automation support for Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy territories - Leo Ndiaye, GreenCorps member with Center for Sustainable Building Research
10:05am - B3 Guidelines, SB2030 Energy Standard, Energy Efficient Operations, and Post-Occupancy Evaluations overviews - Pat Smith, Center for Sustainable Building Research
10:30am - Using B3 Design and SB 2030 Energy Standard for new construction - Gail Hedstrom, Fergus Falls Library
10:45am - Q&A and open discussion
11:00am - Close

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials:

Resources:  

• B3 Program:

• https://www.b3mn.org/
• “Overview” video
• Best of B3 Recognition
• Network of Programs:

• B3 Guidelines:

• Use B3 Guidelines on new buildings or renovations to meet sustainability goals for site, water, energy, indoor environment, materials and waste.
• Training for B3 Guidelines - on-demand online.
• The B3 Case Studies Database provides design and performance information on projects using the B3 Guidelines and the SB 2030 Energy Standard. Each project case study includes a Scorecard with several performance metrics including energy, carbon, water, stormwater, and waste. The case study also includes an SB 2030 Label indicating the projects Energy Use Intensity (EUI) during design and actual performance.
• SB 2030 Energy Standard:
  
• Use the B3 Sustainable Building 2030 (SB 2030) Energy Standard to meet energy use goals only. If the B3 Guidelines are used, the SB 2030 Energy Standard is automatically included in the process. 
• Fergus Fall Public Library
• Best of B3 virtual tour
• B3 Case Study 

• B3 Benchmarking: 

• Use B3 Benchmarking to track and compare energy use on existing buildings. The B3 Guidelines and SB 2030 Energy Standard direct the user to the B3 Benchmarking tool.
• A really quick overview video about Benchmarking with B3 (CERTs) 
• How To Videos
• B3 Data Analysis Steps
• CERTs Benchmarking page
• GreenStep Cities Green Team Work Plan 2020 - BP Action 1.1: Benchmarking Your Buildings 
• Cities Reports
• Contact Leo Ndiaye for more information about B3 Benchmarking assistance with correcting errors and analyzing data or automation for Xcel and CenterPoint bills.

• B3 Energy Efficient Operations:

• Use B3 Energy Efficient Operations to minimize energy use during building operations. This program can be applied to any existing building.

• B3 Post Occupancy Evaluation:  

• Use B3 Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) to determine occupants’ perceptions of the buildings’ indoor environmental quality. The POE survey is required for B3 buildings.

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 1.1 Enter/update building information into the MN B3 Benchmarking database, and routinely enter monthly usage data for all city-owned buildings/infrastructure that consume energy/water.

• 1.2 Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.

• 1.3 Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through performance contracting or other funding or through smaller retro-commissioning/ retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings.

• 1.5 Document that the new construction or major remodeling of a public building has met the SB 2030 energy standard or has met or qualified under a green building or energy framework.

• 1.6 Improve the operations & maintenance of city-owned/school buildings and leased buildings by using a customized online energy efficiency tool, asset management tool, green building framework or green lease.

• 20.1 Compare the energy use and financial performance of your facilities with other peer facilities using standardized, free tools.

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.

Engaging Green Businesses in Your Community

In this webinar, presented live on December 15, 2021, we learned how cities can promote, support, and engage the green businesses in their community. 

Agenda: 

9:00 am - Welcome

9:15 - Olivia Dorow Hovland, Sustainability Planner - Coon Rapids

• Community Sustainability Partnership

9:35 - Wendy Gorski, Sustainable Stillwater

• Stillwater Area Green Business Directory & Awards

9:55 - Annie Pottorff, Sustainability Specialist - St. Louis Park 

• Climate Champions 

10:15 - Patrick Hanlon, Director of Environmental Programs - Minneapolis 

• Green Cost Share Program

10:35 - Gabrielle Martin, Associate Engineer - MnTAP 

11:00 Conclude

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials:

 

Resources: 

• Coon Rapids Community Sustainability Partnership
• Stillwater Area Green Business Directory and Awards
• St. Louis Park Climate Champions 
• Minneapolis Green Cost Share Program
• Minneapolis Green Cost Share program increases clean energy support (CERTs, 2021)
• MnTAP - The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program Strengthens Minnesota businesses by improving efficiency while saving money through energy, water, and waste reduction.
• RETAP - The Minnesota Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) employs skilled, retired professionals to provide facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to small businesses, institutions, and communities in Minnesota.
• Waste Wise - MN Chamber of Commerce program to help educate and train your company, and find ways to control waste costs and connect with grants to fund recycling program improvements.
• Energy Smart - MN Chamber of Commerce program to guide your business to find energy and cost saving opportunities.
• Clean Energy Resource Teams
• MPCA - small business assistance

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• 2.4 Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
• 25.1 Grow new/emerging green businesses and green jobs through targeted assistance and new workforce development.
• 25.2 Create or participate in a marketing/outreach program to connect businesses with assistance providers, including utilities, who provide personalized energy, waste or sustainability audits and assistance.
• 25.6 Promote green businesses that are recognized under a local, regional or national program.
• 25.7 Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.

New Approaches to Parking Management

In this webinar, presented live on November 17, 2021, we learned about the 'new approaches to parking management' and heard from cities addressing parking issues. 

Agenda: 

9:00 am - Welcome

9:05-9:35 - Barb Thoman, RETAP and GreenStep Cities Advisor

• NEW Approaches to Parking Management Guide

9:35-10:05 - Tony Johnson, Senior Planner - City of Saint Paul

10:05-10:40 - Small Group Discussions

• Are your municipal parking requirements helping or hindering your city’s ability to meet it’s goals?
• What changes do you think would make sense?
• What barriers do you see to improving regulation and management of parking?
• What resources or technical assistance would be helpful to you?

10:40-11:00 Report Back

11:00 Conclude

View the workshop recording: 

View the slides and additional materials:

 Resources: 

• New approaches to parking management Guide (Barb Thoman, 2021)

• St. Paul parking ordinance

• Electric Vehicle ordinances

• Reducing Transportation Emissions Through Better Zoning (Great Plains Institute, 2019)
  
• BPAs 3.3, 6.5, 9.4, 14.1
• Living Streets Best Practices (GreenStep Cities, BP 11)

• American Planning Association Planning Magazine

• National Parking Reform Network 

• Streetsblog (and Talking Headways podcast)

• streets.mn

Best Practice Actions related to this topic: 

• Transportation
• 14.1 Reduce or eliminate parking minimums; add parking maximums; develop district parking; install meters and charge for parking at curb and city-owned lots/ramps.
• Land Use
• 6.2 Demonstrate that regulatory ordinances comply with the comprehensive plan including but not limited to having the zoning ordinance explicitly reference the comprehensive plan as the foundational document for decision making.
• 6.5 Adopt climate mitigation and/or energy independence goals and objectives in the comprehensive plan or in a separate policy document, and include transportation recommendations such as becoming an EV-ready city.

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.

RETAP Celebrates 20 Years!

The Minnesota Retired Environmental Professionals Assistance Program (RETAP) has been providing free help to Minnesotans for two decades. A virtual presentation on October 27th, co-hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota GreenStep Cities, highlighted the program’s achievements.

We celebrated the program’s facility assessments and community sustainability projects. RETAPers have completed 422 facility assessments over that past 20 years. After a facility assessment, the assessors draft a report with recommendations. Reports identify retrofits, equipment upgrades, and behavior changes with payback projections. All the proposed recommendations over the years add up to savings of over $4 million. Facilities are encouraged to address all the “low hanging fruit” opportunities. These are things like lighting retrofits and a prescribed control of indoor temperatures. This mix of behavioral and equipment changes has experienced a high implementation rate.

The community sustainability team has been involved in highly impactful work. Work has ranged from quantifying the true cost of public parking, municipal water, urban trees, bike lanes, and more. Providing metrics and realistic action plans has been their recipe for success. RETAP work has engaged local government staff and elected officials in sustainability. This work has supported better long-term decision-making. It often provides the groundwork for continuous improvements.

Agenda: 

9:00: Welcome & Introductions
9:15-9:20 - RETAP overview - Alison Cameron, MPCA
9:20-9:40 - Community Sustainability - Michael Orange and Barb Thoman
9:40-9:55 - Facility Assessments overview - Don Bailey and Rick Person
10:05-10:20 - RETAP highlight projects - Rick Person
10:20-10:40 - RETAP History - Tom Segar
10:40-11:00 - Who should utilize RETAP services, and why? - Rin Porter and Rick Person

View the recording: 

View the slides and additional materials: 

Resources: 

• RETAP website and contacts 
• Join RETAP - applicants may be retired engineers, scientists, managers, or other professionals from a wide range of technical and non-technical fields. You must be a self-starter and independent worker, and be comfortable working with computers. 

• 20-Years of RETAP Infographic

• Road Diet Summary (Barb Thoman)

• New Approaches to Parking Management Guide (Barb Thoman) and Nov. 17 webinar

• West Saint Paul Sustainability Assessment (Michael Orange)

• EAB cost-benefit analysis calculator (Michael Orange)

• Addressing the Sustainability Gap in the Development Review Process (Michael Orange)

Best Practice Actions Related to this Topic: 

• 1.3 Invest in larger energy efficiency projects through performance contracting or other funding or through smaller retro-commissioning/retrofit projects in city-owned/school buildings.
• 2.4 Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
• 25.2 Create or participate in a marketing/outreach program to connect businesses with assistance providers, including utilities, who provide personalized energy, waste or sustainability audits and assistance. 

Register for upcoming GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations workshops here. You do not need to be a GreenStep community to attend.

 Visit the GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations program website at www.mngreenstep.org.