Make no/low cost indoor lighting and operational changes in city-owned/school buildings to reduce energy costs.
- Action 2:City Detail
Background Information
City Assessment Files and City Performance Metrics
City councils pass a resolution to join the GreenStep program and are recognized at Step 1. Step 2 and Step 3 recognition levels reflect completed city actions, reported and rated below with stars (1 star = good, 2 stars = better, 3 stars = best). The Assessment File below summarizes completed city actions in a short Word file. Step 4 recognition is awarded to cities who report a minimum number of core metrics for the previous calendar year. These metrics aim to show the aggregate, quantitative results of taking multiple GreenStep actions. Step 5 cities show improvement in the Step 4 metrics. See yearly data for Steps 4&5. Additional city data can be found by reviewing information on B3 Benchmarking and Regional Indicators Initiative.
Assessment File
Best Practice Actions Underway and Completed
Completed actions are denoted by stars.
Total completed actions: 29Buildings and Lighting
Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}
Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Implement IT efforts and city employee engagement to reduce plug loads, building energy use and workflow efficiency.
- Action 4:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Efficient Existing Private Buildings {BP no.2}
Create or participate in a marketing/outreach/incentive program to promote/achieve residential energy/water use reduction and energy efficiency.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals {BP no.4}
Purchase LEDs for all future street lighting and traffic signals.
- Action 2:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Replace the city's existing traffic signal indications with LEDs.
- Action 8:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Building Redevelopment {BP no.5}
Adopt an historic preservation ordinance/regulations and encourage adaptive reuse.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Land Use
Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans {BP no.6}
Adopt a comprehensive plan or (for Category B & C cities) adopt a future land use plan that was adopted by the county or a regional entity.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Include ecological provisions in the comprehensive plan that explicitly aim to minimize open space fragmentation and/or establish a growth area with expansion criteria.
- Action 4:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Mixed Uses {BP no.8}
Organize or participate in a community planning/placemaking/design process for the city/a mixed-use district, including specific community engagement practices that engage cultural and income diverse community members.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Transportation
Living & Complete Streets {BP no.11}
Adopt a complete streets policy, or a living streets policy, which addresses landscaping and stormwater.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Mobility Options {BP no.12}
Increase walking, biking and transit use by one or more of the following means:
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Conduct an Active Living campaign such as a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
- Action 2:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Prominently promote mobility options: public transit; paratransit/Dial-A-Ride; cab services; rental cars; bike lanes; trails; airports.
- Action 3:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Add/expand public transit service.
- Action 6:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Environmental Management
Community Forests and Soils {BP no.16}
Certify as a Tree City USA.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Build community capacity to protect existing trees by one or more of:
- Action 6:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Parks and Trails {BP no.18}
Make improvements within your city's system of parks, offroad trails and open spaces.
- Action 1:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Plan and budget for a network of parks, green spaces, water features and trails for areas where new development is planned.
- Action 2:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems {BP no.20}
Establish an on-going budget and program for decreasing inflow and infiltration into sewer lines and losses in drinking water systems.
- Action 3:For example:
The Following are I & I projects completed this year:
Minnesota Avenue, Washington Street to Baldwin Street, sanitary sewer was slip lined and all manholes repaired and relined (I & I was present from river and abandoned services).
Alley west of Prentice Street, from 8th Avenue to 7th Avenue. Sanitary sewer, storm sewer and watermain were all replaced. Cross connection had been indicated during smoke testing.
6th Street, from T.H. 212 to 12th Avenue. Replaced watermain and sanitary sewer and plugged catch basins that were thought to flow into sanitary sewer.
School corrected a MASSIVE cross-connection from their roof drains into the sanitary sewer.
All their roof water was draining into the sanitary sewer system. Since this was completed very recently we want to wait to publish data but so far it appears to have a significant decrease into the system.
2017 will be more I and I projects.
Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Septic Systems {BP no.21}
Create a program to finance septic system upgrades.
- Action 5:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Local Air Quality {BP no.23}
Reduce residential burning of wood and yard waste and eliminate ‘backyard’ trash burning.
- Action 2:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Install, assist with and promote publicly available EV charging stations or public fueling stations for alternative fuel vehicles.
- Action 5:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Resilient Economic and Community Development
Green Business Development {BP no.25}
Promote sustainable tourism in your city, and green tourism resources to tourism and hospitality businesses in/around the city.
- Action 3:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Conduct or participate in a buy local campaign for community members and local businesses.
- Action 7:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Renewable Energy {BP no.26}
Promote financing and incentive programs, such as PACE, for clean energy:
- Action 3:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Support a community solar garden or help community members participate in a community solar project by:
- Action 4:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, or micro-hydro.
- Action 5:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Local Food {BP no.27}
Create, assist with and promote local food production/distribution within the city:
- Action 3:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011
Business Synergies and EcoDistricts {BP no.28}
Document that at least one business/building uses waste heat or water discharge from another business or conducts materials exchange activities with another organization.
- Action 2:Crystal Johnson (City staff) | crystal.johnson@granitefalls.com | 320-56-3011