For the last several years RENew Northfield has partnered with Three Rivers Community Action to provide household energy efficiency upgrades for several mortgage rehabs in the city. The upgrades have included solar hot water supply, energy efficient furnaces and hot water heaters, insulation and even a rain garden! RENew in partnership with the Northfield Public Library has also provided a fleet of Kill-a-Watt energy appliance monitoring meters available for check-out to anyone with a Northfield library card. The monitors can be used to record electricity usage of any household appliance with a plug and project weekly, monthly, and annual costs. Particularly revealing can be the cost information provided about electronic devices (e.g. computer monitors), that even when nominally “off” are still drawing current. The original funding for both projects came from a Northfield Area Foundation grant to RENew.
All posts by Martha Larson
City of Northfield Greenstep Cities Program
Northfield is a member of Minnesota GreenStep Cities, “a voluntary challenge, assistance and recognition program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The Northfield City Council voted to become part of the GreenSteps Cities Program in 2011 and has since been using pursuing the green “steps” matrix to develop more sustainable practices on the part of the City.This free continuous improvement program is sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and based upon 28 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.” (http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/)
Northfield Energy: Abrupt Climate Change
Description: As a final project for Carleton College ENTS 288 Abrupt Climate Change course, this website is designed to help residents of Northfield, Minnesota navigate the science of abrupt climate change and to illuminate the steps Northfield’s government has taken to address the role humans play in these processes: https://sites.google.com/site/northfieldenergy/
Participants:
- Project Authors: Samantha Thompson, Amanda Savitt, Samantha Baker, Ryland Bowan Johnson.
- Carleton Faculty: Trish Ferrett, Professor of Chemistry
- Community Partner: George Kinney
Contact: Trish Ferrett, tferrett@carleton.edu or George Kinney, geokinney@gmail.com
Carleton Climate Action Plan
In May 2011, Carleton college’s Board of Trustees adopted its first Climate Action Plan, a document that compiles both short and long-term strategies to become climate neutral (net zero carbon emissions) by the year 2050. Carleton authored the document as part of its participation in the 670+ member President’s Climate Commitment which unites higher ed institutions under the conviction that “…colleges and universities must exercise leadership in their communities and throughout society by modeling ways to minimize global warming emissions, and by providing the knowledge and the educated graduates to achieve climate neutrality.”
Transition Youth Composting Project
Transition Youth – a sub-group of Transition Northfield – is currently working with the City of Northfield’s pilot composting project, raising awareness, promoting, and making the practice of composting more accessible to people in the community.
City of Northfield Land Development Code
The City of Northfield carries out the policies of the comprehensive plan by classifying and regulating the uses of land and structures within the city. This Land Development Code is adopted to protect and promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the city.
Bridgewater Township: Anaerobic Digester
This project is in the planning stages to explore the possibility of building an anaerobic biodigestor in Bridgewater Township. The digester would turn organic waste from local industry such as MOM brands and Faribault Foods into compressed natural gas that can be turned into fuel for vehicles. In the news: Northfield News article
Contact: Glen Castore
CRWP Watershed Wide Cleanup
This annual event is held the third Saturday of September at locations across the Cannon River watershed to remove trash from the shorelines and water bodies.
Organized by: Cannon River Watershed Partnership
Partners: Churches, 4-H clubs, school groups, Cities, lake associations, Muskies Inc., Waste Management
Get It Out of the Gutter
An urban stormwater reduction project that includes the following activities: Stormdrain stenciling, educational material distribution, rain barrel workshops, rain garden workshops, school poster contest, neighborhood stormwater pond education. Partners: Cannon River Watershed Partnership, City of Northfield
Community Partners Conservation Sub Grant
The Sub-Grant Program is a way for citizens and local organizations to access Clean Water. Funds to reduce stormwater runoff and improve lakes and streams in Rice County. Citizens and local organizations work together to design and implement their own local initiatives. Funds for this project are provided from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.