Home | The 28 best practices | How to become a GreenStep City

What is GreenStep Cities?

Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of 28 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more specific actions from a list of four to eight actions. These actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities, focus on cost savings and energy use reduction, and encourage innovation.

Be a GreenStep City

Learn about the benefits and what's required, and then ...

	Build some interest (anyone can do this); have someone visit your city
	Have your city council approve a resolution to work toward Greenstep recognition (use a sample resolution)
	Post some info about your city and what you�ve already done (easy)
	Work on GreenStep best practices (the hard and rewarding part)
	Get recognized for your work each year and share knowledge on this web site with other cities (easy)
[ Read more: Steps ]

News

City log-in features -- Later this summer cities will have web access to enter best practice actions completed.

Pine River Healthy Green Communities Partnership -- Check out the first GreenStep effort, supported by the Initiative Foundation: www.pinerivergreensteps.org

The Blue Star Award -- An action under best practice #17, this stormwater self-assessment is now live at www.bluestarmn.org

Water/Climate Summit Sept. 16-17 -- Workshops on urban low-impact redevelopment, the positive economics of green infrastructure for climate adaptation, and more, at www.arboretum.umn.edu

Significant MN rebates for solar thermal installations -- www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/community-projects/campaigns/solar-thermal

Is your city a greenstep city?

Greenstep cities

Pilot cities
Bloomington
Edina
Falcon Heights
St. Louis Park
Victoria

Signed resolution to join
Apple Valley; Breezy Point; Eagan; Mankato; Milan; Northfield; Pine River; St. Cloud

Considering resolution
Austin; Cottage Grove; Grand Rapids; Hopkins; Mahtomedi; Maplewood; New London; Rochester; Spring Grove

Who can help?

Talk to best practice advisors.

GreenStep�s Best Practices

[ Read more: See all 28 Best Practices ]
Buildings and Lighting Efficient Existing Public Buildings Efficient Existing Private Buildings New Green Buildings Efficient Building & Street Lighting and Signals Building Reuse	Land Use Comprehensive Plan and Implementation Higher Density Efficient and Healthy Development Patterns Efficient Highway-Oriented Development Conservation Design	Transportation Complete Green Streets Mobility Options Efficient City Fleets Demand-Side Travel Planning	Environmental Management Purchasing Urban Forests Efficient Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure Surface Water Quality Efficient Water and Wastewater Facilities Septic Systems Solid Waste Reduction Local Air Quality	Economic and Community Development Benchmarks & Community Engagement Green Business Development Renewable Energy Local Food Business Synergies

Minnesota GreenStep Cities grew out of a report to the 2009 Legislature. Governed by a partnership of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) with several non-profit organizations, the program is led by the MPCA. [ Read more ]