Best Practice Action Detail

In November of 2021, Edina City Council adopted the Sustainable Buildings Policy, which went into effect on April 1st, 2022. In this Policy, all public/city-owned buildings which are operated by the City of Edina or the Edina Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) are required to be built following the B3 Sustainable Building 2030 Energy Standard.

In December of 2009, Maplewood adopted an energy efficiency and conservation strategy. This plan was required as part of the City's energy efficiency conservation block grant. One of the intended goals of the energy plan was to help establish policies and priorities to move Maplewood in the direction of improved long-term operational energy efficiency.

To design the Maplewood Green Building Code representatives from the building inspection division of the Environmental and Economic Development Department partnered with the International Code Council to assist in the development of a National Green Building Standards for residential buildings and the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) for commercial buildings. The Maplewood Green Building program is based on these new national codes.

This building ordinance applies to all city owned or financed building. City-owned existing buildings will be prioritized for compliance with the 2012 IgCC Chapter 10. All city-financed buildings and projects will be considered by the City Manager, or designee, and approved by the city council to determine inclusion in this green building program. The newest city building, the McKnight Fire Station is the first building in Minnesota to be built to these specifications. Both the building as well as the site contain the qualifications listed within the IgCC 2012.

Link to Maplewoods Fire Station Article:
http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/11801

Apple Valley has two Green Globes certified city-owned buildings: the Hayes Senior & Community Center and Liquor Store #3

Since 2001, city policy has been that any new construction or major remodel of a city facility is required to be built using Oakdale's own Generation Green building program standards. As a result, an addition at public works, a new fire station, and the Discovery Center at Oakdale Nature Preserve were all built to the Generation Green standard. Some of the green building strategies implemented included: increased wall/roof insulation standards, use of recycled construction materials, native habitat landscaping, upgraded HVAC equipment and controls.

On February 16th 2010, the City of Saint Louis Park Economic Development Authority adopted a city wide Green Building Policy. This policy affects new municipal, commercial, hotel, industrual and mixed use construction, additions 15,000 square feet or greater (gross) and renovations 50,000 square feet or greater (gross) receiving $200,000 or more in City financial assistance. This policy also affects new and renovated multifamily residential buildings receiving $200,000 or more in City financial assistance and all new and renovated detached single family home projects receiving $10,000 or more in City financial assistance.

The Saint Paul Sustainable Building Policy was adopted by Mayor Chris Coleman and the City Council and became effective July 1, 2010. It applies to new city-owned buildings and all privately developed new construction projects receiving more than $200,000 in public funding. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency granted Saint Paul funds to develop this policy, with the intent of creating a model policy that other cities and counties could adopt.

In October 2009, Woodbury City Council passed a resolution adopting a sustainable building standard for new and renovated municipal buildings in the city. The resolution states that the city will utilize the B3-State of Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines in the planning, design, construction and commission of new buildings and major renovations greater than 5,000 square feet that are owned by the City of Woodbury. The resolution also states that city staff will consider the feasibility of pursuing Energy Star or LEED certification for the same. Since the resolution was passed, the city has utilized the B3 guidelines and documented the renovation and expansion of the Public Safety Building and the Bielenberg Sports Complex.

In addition, Woodbury City Hall is Energy Star certified.

The City of Fergus Falls has recently completed the design development phase for a renovated/new construction project at our Public Library. The city and BTR has reviewed the design to incorporate green building framework standards.

Leech Lake encourages a list of Green Initiatives depending on construction and building infrastructure that may be implemented, taking into account budget constraints. For example, use of energy efficient lighting, heating, cooling, high r-value insulation, passive solar/lighting and orientation of building.

Mankato's policy is to look for opportunities to maximize energy-efficiency and sustainability in locating and constructing new City facilities, and when renovating existing faciliies. Strategic planning of facilities allows efficient use of public funds and opportunities for leadership in sustainable practices.

Most major City building construction and rehabilitation projects will require financing (typically bonds) from the State. As such, the projects will comply with the Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, which are designed to exceed the State energy code by at least 30 percent and achieve the lowest possible lifetime costs.

The sustainability policies in the City's Parks Master Plan states, "That all new park and facility improvements include in the planning or process criterion that improves sustainability of materials, energy use, operating cost and lifecycle replacement and natural environmental impact. Best practices for stormwater retention. That innovative stormwater retention techniques be utilized in new park development and in the renovation of existing parks, such as permeable paving and rain gardens.

Subd. 7. The City of Rochester is a signatory to the 2005 US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA), which has been endorsed by the US Conference of Mayors, and signed by more than 900 US Mayors and 40 Minnesota cities as of February, 2009. Under the agreement, cities commit to the following: (1) urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing greenhouse gas emission levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; (2) promote land use and transportation policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (3) increase the use of clean, renewable energy and make energy efficiency a priority; (4) adopt purchasing and building construction and operation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (5) increase recycling rates and urban forest cover; and (6) support education efforts about how to take actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Public Works practices addressing 4) Support of Olmsted Countys Solid Waste Policy and location of Waste to Energy Facility within the City limits; (5) Implementation of Inflow and Infiltration Policies to reduce the capacity and operational impacts and costs on the public sewer collection and wastewater treatment system; (6) Construction of sustainable, durable, long lasting public buildings and infrastructure that increases life cycles, conserves energy, reduces long-term operating costs, and minimizes construction materials waste. (7) Incorporation of smart technologies in transportation infrastructure that increases public safety and reduces pollution due to congestion;

Planning was done in 2013 and construction began winter 2013 and completition in July 2014. Reducing electric usage for heating apartments from using PTack units to using mini split cold temperature heat pumps with natural gas boiler heat for floor heat in new addition.