City Detail

Background Information

City of Cologne
County: Carver
Population: 1709
GreenStep City category: B
Full-time equivalent city staff (approx.): 6
Participating township, county, school:

GreenStep Coordinator

Jesse Dickson
City Staff
952-466-2064
City web page relating to sustainability/GreenStep activities:
GreenStep City resolution: Click here to view the file.
GreenStep City status and date: STEP 1 ( )

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: 6
1 star actions: 3
2 star actions: 1
3 star actions: 2

Buildings and Lighting Buildings and Lighting

Efficient Existing Public Buildings {BP no.1}

2 star - Action 1:

Enter/update building information into the MN B3 Benchmarking database, and routinely enter monthly usage data for all city-owned buildings/infrastructure that consume energy/water.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Entered B3 benchmarking data on Electricity and Natural gas usage for City Hall and Firestation dating back to 2014. Will continue to update monthly. Contracting with RETAP to perform an energy audit of both buildings
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
RETAP
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064
1 star - Action 7:

Install for one or more city-owned/school buildings one of the following efficiency measures:

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Cologne has a closed loop geothermal field which heats and cools the City Hall.
Cologne also entered into a contract to receive solar energy from municipal solar gardens which should be 100% off-setting the City's energy use in all public buildings as well as the two water towers, the lift stations and the wells.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064

Land Use Land Use

Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans {BP no.6}

1 star - Action 1:

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.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
As a member of the 7 county metro area Cologne is required by the Metropolitan Council to have a comprehensive plan. The most recent plan was created in 2009 and will begin to be revised at the end of 2015.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064

Mixed Uses {BP no.8}

3 star - Action 5:

Have a downtown zoning district that emphasizes small and destination business, entrepreneurial spaces, and allows or requires residential and residential-compatible commercial development.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Cologne's downtown is zoned to allow for mixed use of buildings. Buildings generally have commercial uses on the main floor with living quarters above that are mostly used as rental property.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064

Resilient Economic & Community Development Resilient Economic and Community Development

Renewable Energy {BP no.26}

1 star - Action 5:

Install a public sector/municipally-owned renewable energy technology, such as solar electric (PV), wind, biomass, solar hot water/air, or micro-hydro.

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The Cologne City Hall is heated and cooled via a geothermal field that was installed during the construction of the building in 2006.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064
3 star - Action 6:

Report installed private sector-owned renewable energy/energy efficient generation capacity with at least one of the following attributes:

Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Signed a 25 year agreement with Sunshare to 100% off-set our electricity usage through Xcel with the use of a series of solar gardens in and around Carver County.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Sunshare
For more information contact:
Jesse Dickson (City staff) | jessed@colognemn.com | 952-466-2064