Officials in St. Paul, Minn., announced that the city has set a zero carbon goal for 2050.
City-owned buildings are to hit that target by 2030, with all buildings following suit by mid-century.
A two-year study of carbon emissions within the city found that 52% were related to physical structures.
The city expects that its primary utility, Xcel Energy, will help it achieve 40% of the progress needed by relying less on fossil fuels. To get the rest of the way to its goal, the city has a five-year strategy with five primary goals:
• Inspiring a culture of energy stewardship throughout the city
• Lowering energy burdens on low-income households so that no household has to spend more than 4% of its income on energy costs
• Working with major institutions such as colleges and hospitals to set energy goals that align with those of the city
• Promoting efficiency in large buildings, both commercial and multi-family residences
• Leading by example as city government
To spur private building owners to green up their facilities, the city is sponsoring the “Race to Reduce,” a competition that encourages building managers to monitor and compare their buildings’ energy use to comparable structures across the country.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 12, 2017
Washington, D.C. is first LEED Platinum city in the world
All city government buildings are powered by renewables.
Green | Sep 12, 2017
Brooklyn’s Windsor Terrace Library gets a living roof
The roof was funded through a process that allows local residents to decide how City capital dollars are spent in their neighborhoods.
Green | Aug 24, 2017
Business case for WELL still developing after first generation office fitouts completed
The costs ranged from 50 cents to $4 per sf, according to a ULI report.
Libraries | Aug 18, 2017
Johnson Favaro-designed Lions Park project breaks ground in Costa Mesa
The project includes a new library, the renovation of the existing library, and the redevelopment of parkland.
Mixed-Use | Aug 15, 2017
A golf course community converts into an agrihood with 1,150 homes and a working olive grove
The community will cover 300 acres in Palm Springs, Calif.
Green | Aug 11, 2017
A school’s sports hall is created entirely from bamboo
The building boasts a zero-carbon footprint and is naturally ventilated.
Sustainability | Aug 7, 2017
Existing storage center becomes symbol of renewable energy for a southwestern German town
The tower’s design comes from the Laboratory for Visionary Architecture’s (LAVA) winning competition entry for an energy park and storage tower.
Codes and Standards | Aug 3, 2017
ASID headquarters is first space in the world to earn both LEED and WELL Platinum Certification
Washington, D.C. office is showcase for top levels of the two standards.
Mixed-Use | Aug 3, 2017
A sustainable mixed-use development springs from a Dutch city center like a green-fringed crystal formation
MVRDV and SDK Vastgoed won a competition to redevelop the inner city area around Deken van Someren Street in Eindhoven.
Sustainability | Jul 31, 2017
Passive House practitioners aim to spread standard beyond single-family homes
Growth has been slow, but enticing larger firms and getting help from local governments could provide a boost.
