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Minnesota GreenStep Cities <br />http://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/bestPractices.cfm[7/8/2016 3:58:33 PM] <br /> <br />Home | About | The 29 best practices | Become a GreenStep City | Recognition | Ordinances | City log-in | Contact Stay Connected <br />Show me all actions related to <br />The GreenStep 29 best <br />practices <br />Make planning and tracking easier: download <br />this spreadsheet that lists all unique actions – <br />approximately 175 – for all 29 best practices. <br />Cities that implement a minimum number of <br />best practices organized into these five topical <br />areas will be recognized as Step Two and Step <br />Three GreenStep Cities. See What are Step <br />Two and Three Recognition Minimums? <br />Cities should claim credit for best practices <br />already implemented. Adding best practices <br />over time will garner additional recognition. <br />For each best practice, and depending on city <br />category (A, B or C), a city needs to complete <br />one or more actions from a list associated <br />with the best practice. See What category is <br />my city in? <br />Buildings and Lighting <br />1. Efficient Existing Public Buildings: <br />Benchmark energy usage, identify savings <br />opportunities in consultation with state <br />programs, utilities and others to implement <br />cost-effective energy and sustainability <br />improvements. <br />2. Efficient Existing Private Buildings: Provide <br />incentives for energy, water and sustainability <br />improvements in existing structures. <br />3. New Green Buildings: Construct new buildings to <br />meet or qualify under a green building framework. <br />4. Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals: Improve <br />the efficiency and quality of street lighting, traffic <br />signals and outdoor public lighting. <br />5. Building Redevelopment: Create economic and <br />regulatory incentives for redeveloping and <br />repurposing existing buildings before building new. <br />Land Use <br />6. Comprehensive Plans: Build public <br />support and legal validity to long-term <br />infrastructural and regulatory strategy. <br />7. Efficient City Growth: Promote <br />financial and environmental sustainability by enabling <br />and encouraging walkable housing and commercial <br />land use. <br />8. Mixed Uses: Develop efficient and healthy land <br />patterns that generate community wealth. <br />9. Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented <br />Development: Adopt commercial development and <br />design standards for auto-oriented development <br />corridors and clusters. <br />10. Design for Natural Resource Conservation: <br />Adopt development ordinances or processes that <br />protect natural systems and valued community assets. <br />Transportation <br />11. Living Streets: Create a network of <br />green complete streets that improves city <br />quality of life and adds value to surrounding <br />properties. <br />12. Mobility Options: Promote active transportation <br />and alternatives to single-occupancy car travel. <br />13. Efficient City Fleets: Implement a city fleet <br />investment, operations and maintenance plan. <br />14. Demand-Side Travel Planning: Implement <br />Travel Demand Management and Transit-Oriented <br />Design in service of a more walkable city. <br />Environmental Management <br />15. Sustainable Purchasing: Adopt <br />environmentally preferable purchasing <br />policies and practices. <br />16. Urban Forests: Add city tree and plant <br />cover that increases community health, wealth and <br />quality of life. <br />17. Stormwater Management: Minimize the volume <br />of and pollutants in stormwater runoff. <br />18. Parks and Trails: Support active lifestyles and <br />property values by enhancing the city's green <br />infrastructure. <br />19. Surface Water Quality: Improve local water <br />bodies. <br />20. Efficient Water and Wastewater Facilities: <br />Assess and improve city drinking water and <br />wastewater facilities. <br />21. Septic Systems: Implement an effective <br />management program for decentralized wastewater <br />treatment systems. <br />22. Solid Waste Reduction: Increase waste <br />reduction, reuse and recycling. <br />23. Local Air Quality: Prevent generation of local air <br />contaminants. <br />Economic and CommunityDevelopment <br />24. Benchmarks & Community <br />Engagement: Adopt outcome measures <br />for GreenStep and other city <br />sustainability efforts, and engage <br />community members in ongoing <br />education, dialogue, and campaigns. <br />25. Green Business Development: Support <br />expansion of the city's green business sector. <br />26. Renewable Energy: Remove barriers to and <br />encourage installation of renewable energy generation <br />capacity. <br />27. Local Food: Strengthen local food and fiber <br />production and access. <br />28. Business Synergies: Network/cluster businesses <br />to achieve better energy, economic and environmental <br />outcomes. <br />29. Climate Adaptation and Community <br />Resilience: Plan and prepare for extreme weather, <br />adapt to changing climatic conditions, and foster <br />stronger community connectedness and social and <br />economic vitality.