Describe energy/water efficiency outcomes and other green building practices at businesses and not-for-profit organizations located within/nearby the city.
Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
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Identify examples including building lighting upgrades (including exit lights, lighting equipment and controls), EV charging stations, and other building/operational improvements in energy and water use and wastewater reduction. Report renewable energy installations under BPA 26.6. |
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Identify businesses, educational and non-profit organizations using a green building framework such as LEED to build, operate and maintain their buildings and operations, or businesses currently using Energy Star's Portfolio Manager or similar energy-tracking software. |
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Identify examples of extensive daylighting or electrochromic window glass and consequent energy/cost savings, installation of a greywater system, or similar innovative improvements. |
Resources
- Energy ScoreCards and WEGOWise are online energy and water benchmarking and management tools recommended by the Minnesota Community Action Partnership for use on multi-family rental buildings, as they are the easiest for owners and managers without energy manager training to use.
- The Minnesota Multifamily Affordable Housing Energy Network (MMAHEN) works to increase energy efficiency and conservation in multifamily buildings of five units or more in Minnesota by improving and expanding the use and equitable access of available resources. MMAHEN promotes greater access to building data related to energy efficacy and promotes energy benchmarking.
- The Energy Smart program from the MN Chamber of Commerce, the Retiree Environmental Technical Assistance Program (ReTAP) of the MN Pollution Control Agency and the MN Technical Assistance Program all provide energy efficiency assistance for businesses at no cost.
- Use the International Dark-Sky Association Education and Outreach guide to promote reduced/smarter outdoor lighting. See the GreenStep Dark Skies best practices for more.
- See Home Energy Guides from CERTs for renters, landlords, and owners of single-family and manufactured homes that provide ways to be comfortable, safe, and efficient.
- Local utility programs include building energy reports, rebate programs for purchasing/upgrading to more efficient appliances, bonus rebates for using qualified installers, and commercial design assistance.
- Use the Green Building Information Gateway (click on the ‘city profiles’ on the right bottom of the main page) to see a list of public and private buildings using green building platforms such as LEED, Energy Star, EPA GHG Reporting Program, Energy Benchmarking, NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat, and more.
- See the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance standard.
- Net zero water is an analogous concept to net zero energy for buildings. Through a combination of rainfall harvesting, aggressive conservation, and water recycling, buildings can achieve self-sufficiency from the water "grid."
- List of green building frameworks, which include codes, standards, rating systems with certification and guidelines with verification.
Order Number
4
Action Type
Finite