Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. This free continuous improvement program, managed by a public-private partnership, is based upon 29 best practices. Each best practice can be implemented by completing one or more actions at a 1, 2 or 3-star level, 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 civic innovation. [More]

Recognition Steps 1-5

Learn about the benefits of program participation, and then ...

	Build community interest; have program staff visit your city; join GreenStep by adopting a city resolution
	Post brief info on this web site about what you've already done; be recognized for implementing between 4 & 8 best practices
	Implement at your own pace an additional 4 – 8 best practices; complete a handful of high-impact best practice actions (ask us for help)
	Measure and report on between 7 & 15 city performance metrics
	Show improvement in city performance metrics
[ Read more: Steps ]

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recent media coverage
Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Program -- many GS cities have participated; apply by 7/13: https://tinyurl.com/XcelPieGS Free Zoning/Permitting Help with Solar -- Apply by June 1 for SolSmart assistance: https://tinyurl.com/CERTsTA Host aFall Walkable Community Workshop -- Apply by June 8 @ http://tinyURL.com/MnWALKS Environmental Assistance Grants -- Apps due 6/26 from local gov, residents, orgs, businesses, institutions, and tribal govs https://bit.ly/1OxJAEx
see more news/opportunities

Is your city a greenstep city?

LATEST CITIES TO JOIN THE GREENSTEP PROGRAM (and date joined)

Crosslake	(4/9/18)
Lewiston	(3/28/18)
North Branch	(1/23/18)
Lakeville	(11/6/17)
Vesta	(10/10/17)
Wyoming	(10/3/17)
Saint Francis	(9/5/17)
Bloomington	(8/7/17)
Moorhead	(7/24/17)
West Saint Paul	(5/22/17)
Saint James	(2/28/17)
Winona	(2/21/17)
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa	(2/9/17)
Granite Falls	(11/7/16)
Morris	(7/12/16)

Who can help?

Talk to best practice advisors.

Show all 122 cities

See city step level and which cities have implemented which best practices.

See city building energy performance for all GreenStep cities

See city-wide performance metrics for select GreenStep cities

GreenStep’s Best Practices

[ Read more: See all 29 Best Practices ]
Buildings and Lighting 1. Efficient Existing Public Buildings 2. Efficient Existing Private Buildings 3. New Green Buildings 4. Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals 5. Building Redevelopment	Land Use 6. Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans 7. Resilient City Growth 8. Mixed Uses 9. Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development 10. Design for Natural Resource Conservation	Transportation 11. Living Streets 12. Mobility Options 13. Efficient City Fleets 14. Demand-Side Travel Planning	Environmental Management 15. Sustainable Purchasing 16. Urban Forests & Soils 17. Stormwater Management 18. Parks and Trails 19. Surface Water 20. Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems 21. Septic Systems 22. Solid Waste Prevention and Reduction 23. Local Air Quality	Resilient Economic & Community Development 24. Benchmarks and Community Engagement 25. Green Business Development 26. Renewable Energy 27. Local Food 28. Business Synergies 29. Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience

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

Recognition Steps 1-5

News

Newsletter

Who can help?

Show all 122 cities

GreenStep’s Best Practices