Green Living 
There are currently 15 blog entries related to this category.
New "Sustainable Shelter" Exhibit at the Bell Museum
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 at 11:58pm. 578 Views, 0 Comments.
"Sustainable Shelter: Dwelling Within the Forces of Nature," a new exhibit at the Bell Museum of Natural History in Minneapolis, compares how the homes of animals and humans differ. It also investigates the connection between nature and our lifestyle.
"Sustainable Shelter" was designed to educate people of all ages, but it is particularly designed to engage children - the future homeowners of America. Data and ideas are presented in entertaining formats such as animation, hands-on exhibits and computer games that explain words like "carbon footprint." The exhibit includes displays, graphics and model homes that depict how everyday activities in our homes affect the environment. For example, "The Life Cycle of a House" uses cartoon drawings to show how…
Walkability Score a High Priority for More Home Buyers
Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 5:15pm. 603 Views, 0 Comments.
According to Realtors, more and more prospective home buyers are making neighborhood walkability a priority in their search for a residence.
Along with bedrooms, bathrooms, and square footage, the "walkability" of a home's neighborhood is a hot topic among many house hunters. Real estate agents say the walkability factor has become more prominent for a variety of reasons, including increased gas prices, concern for the environment, even the convenience of having a choice to take a leisurely stroll for a gallon of milk instead of succumbing to the stress of fighting traffic and hunting for a parking spot.
Now a new free online tool called Walk Score rates a neighborhood's walkability and helps prospective home buyers determine what listings at which they…
Going Green and Saving Green in Dakota County
Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010 at 5:54pm. 511 Views, 3 Comments.
In 2008, the Dakota County commissioners passed a resolution to "go green" and collaborate with cities to utilize energy-efficient facilities and practices. The countywide "greening initiative" is paying off.
According to a 20-page study the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club in Minneapolis, the combined efforts of the cities and Dakota County will save taxpayers at least $200,000 a year. The report chronicles how Dakota County cities have used energy rebates and federal stimulus dollars to reduce heat-trapping fuel emissions while saving on energy costs. Buildings produce about 40% of a municipal government's emissions.
Several cities and to two college campuses in Dakota County have made similar pledges. Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Rosemount and…
In Saint Paul, An Urban Farm Has Sprouted
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010 at 9:26pm. 870 Views, 2 Comments.
An empty city lot in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul is being converted into an urban garden. The transformation is part of a nationwide effort to bring fresh foods to places where it may be hard to acquire.
The garden is sprouting up thanks to the Urban Farming organization. Urban Farming has planted 50 gardens in 20 cities across the nation. St. Paul was the last stop.
"It's amazing how much food you can grow in a small area," [founder of Urban Farming] Taja Sevelle said. "We're encouraging people to grow their own food at home and get back to the simple basics of growing your own food."
"We have a beautification aspect to it, environmental aspect to it, this is the perfect opportunity to add this proponent of edible gardens and vegetable gardens,"…
Green Roof Installed on Saint Paul Fire Station
Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 8:01pm. 863 Views, 1 Comments.
A green roof is being installed on the garage of St. Paul's newest fire station, located at W. 7th Street and Randolph Avenue. Installation of plants continues Friday and next week.
The city is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the new building. St. Paul Fire Marshal Steve Zaccard said the green space also will help open the building to Saint Paul community members. The space eventually will be open for public tours and use, which will likely require an appointment through the fire department. It could possibly even host weddings. The roof will have a gas connection and a sound system.
The 8,000-square-foot green roof is located two stories from ground level, and the soil depth ranges from 4 to 15 inches deep.…
Get a $6,500 Loan to Make Energy-Saving Improvements to St. Paul Homes
Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 8:47pm. 661 Views, 2 Comments.
The city of St Paul has received $550,000 to offer no-interest loans of up to $6,500 for homeowners who make energy-saving improvements to their properties.
The money comes out of federal stimulus funds. The program will include rebates for landlords if they replace outdated refrigerators in their rental units with new Energy Star refrigerators.
Anne Hunt, energy policy director for the city of St. Paul, says homeowners can use the no-interest loans for things like furnace replacement, insulation and air sealing.
"We are gearing towards people that are modest-income people that are above, say, the [federal] weatherization programs -- they are not eligible to get free weatherization -- for their homes so they need something that's attractive for them to make…
Rain Garden & Sustainable Gardening Workshops
Saturday, March 13th, 2010 at 12:31am. 784 Views, 0 Comments.
Early spring is the time to spruce up a home's exterior for the late spring and early summer home selling season. As I write this, the snow is melting away more quickly than expected. That mean's it is almost landscaping and gardening season. Just in time, there are some workshops to get you prepared for the planting season.
With all the rain we've been getting, naturally rain gardens would be a good topic to discuss. Do you have a low lying area in your yard where rain water flows or accumulates? It can be hard to keep plants alive in those areas. Planting a rain garden in that spot can help improve the quality of local lakes, rivers and streams. Metro Blooms is offering a series of low-cost rain garden workshops to help get you started.
For $10, learn how…
Home and Patio Show 2010
Friday, February 19th, 2010 at 4:00pm. 510 Views, 0 Comments.
The Home and Patio Show is back at the Saint Paul RiverCentre! This show features hundreds of exhibitors and has the best and most respected local resources for all home and garden needs. Find what is needed for new spring and summer gardening, home renovation, landscaping, building, decorating, or green projects. There's also a kids' potting table, bulb sale, and opportunities to consult experts through Ask the Gardener!
The show opened Thursday and will be open through Sunday. The cost is $9 for adults and $2.50 for children ages 6 to 12. Younger kids have free admission!
City of Saint Paul is Going Green
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010 at 6:18pm. 516 Views, 0 Comments.
With eyes set to the future, the city of St. Paul is moving forward with green building requirements for new construction projects that receive $200,000 or more in city funding.
An advisory group of architects, designers, contractors, developers, bankers, regulatory agencies, city staff and other industry representatives worked for more than two years to develop the city's new sustainable building policy. Under it, building projects that receive at least $200,000 in city loans, grants or "other funding vehicles" must meet green building standards as defined by one of seven rating systems to satisfy the requirements. A partial list of approved rating systems includes LEED Silver or Green Globes 2 for commercial projects or LEED for Homes or Minnesota…
RiverCentre Gets Green in Saint Paul
Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 4:02pm. 402 Views, 0 Comments.
Two stories about the RiverCentre in St. Paul:
First, a $2 million, 1-megawatt solar energy system will be installed on the roof of the St. Paul RiverCentre. It will be the largest solar-energy installation in the state.
District Energy St. Paul, which provides heating and cooling for downtown's commercial and residential buildings, will provide funds for its construction of $1 million, in addition to a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.
The system will heat water for downtown and offset energy that District Energy St. Paul expends burning waste wood for its heating system. It should be running by the end of 2010.
Second, officials are working on cutting the amount of trash generated at Saint Paul's RiverCentre. Visitors to the RiverCentre…
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