Greetings!
Welcome to the December issue of the Energy Innovation Corridor e-Newsletter. Thank you for your continued interest in how we are partnering to develop a cleaner energy and transportation future for Minnesota. Questions or comments? Send us an e-mail. |
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Saint Paul celebrates Rice Park tree lighting |
Rice Park - powered by Xcel Energy is downtown Saint Paul's winter holiday destination and captures the spirit of the holiday season with a tree as tall and bright as the iconic Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. The gigantic tree in Rice Park will be lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week with 30,000 energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) lights. The park will sparkle with millions of twinkling lights, classic Nutcracker and angel statues, and other holiday décor. From November 27, 2010 through January 1, 2011, you can check out the lights at Rice Park. |
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Sparkle for less |
Deck the halls and save with LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights. LED lights use up to 90 percent less energy than standard incandescent holiday lights. The LED lights last 10 times longer, produce almost no heat and won't break like glass bulbs! |
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Deadline: December 31
BOMA Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge |
BOMA Greater Minneapolis, BOMA Greater Saint Paul and Xcel Energy remind you that the deadline for registering for the BOMA Kilowatt Crackdown Challenge is December 31, 2010. Don't miss out on the opportunity to be recognized as an energy efficiency and environmental leader in the community.
Still need to register? Remember, buildings must be at least 30,000 square feet to qualify. Fill out the short form to register - Minneapolis BOMA members or Saint Paul BOMA members. 
Once you register we'll send you an e-mail identifying your next steps including how to benchmark your facility utilizing the Environmental Protection Agency's tool ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager . Xcel Energy can help find your current score for no cost (up to 3 buildings). Over 20 winners will be awarded for energy efficiency improvements made in 2011. Register now for your chance to win!
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Lofty solar array |
 | | Courtesy Jade K Patrick |
D&E Management's lofts just got an energy boost. The Minneapolis lofts just received a 12 kW solar array, which boasts a carbon offset equivalent of 21,602 pounds of carbon, 1,193 gallons of gas saved and the equivalent of 273 trees saved each year. Solarflow Energy installed 52 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the loft's roof. This grid-tied installation uses 230 watt solar panels, an 11.96 kW DC system. D&E Management is part of an innovative solar leasing pilot project through Solarflow Energy. The building will offset more than 100 percent of its common-area electrical use through solar PV. Learn more about the D&E solar array. |
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Multifamily building owners save energy, get rebates | |
 Owners of multifamily properties within the Energy Innovation Corridor (EIC) may be especially interested to learn that there are significant opportunities to reduce energy consumption in their type of buildings, as demonstrated by the recently awarded a rebate check for more than $415,000 from CenterPoint Energy to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA). Working with Honeywell, MPHA was able to install over 100 high-efficiency natural gas boilers and over 60 domestic water heaters in their high-rise buildings. This energy-saving initiative is part of a three-year project to install high efficient equipment in over 40 locations in Minneapolis.
"With great support from Honeywell, we were able to help MPHA and their residents save energy, money, while helping the environment," said Tal Centers, division vice president for CenterPoint Energy. "Our convenient, money-saving rebates make it easier than ever for businesses to take advantage of our conservation programs and services." Even though many of the buildings were outside the area that defines the EIC, it's possible the type of CenterPoint Energy rebates that helped MPHA may benefit your business as well. Visit CenterPoint Energy to learn more. |
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U of M receives kudos & cash for lighting project | |
The University of Minnesota retrofitted more than 7,400 inefficient, T12 lamped, magnetic ballasted fluorescent light fixtures with modern solid state ballasts and high efficiency T8 lamps in eight residence halls on the Twin Cities campus. The lighting retrofit has improved the quality of light provided in the students' living spaces, study areas, common areas and dining facilities. The retrofit also saves money and reduces the University's carbon footprint. Xcel Energy awarded the U with a rebate of nearly $143,000! Find out more about the University of Minnesota's lighting retrofit. |
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Home Energy Squad makes it quick and easy | |
Think of the Home Energy Squad as your very own personal energy guru who pops in with real results, real fast.
"I was very impressed with the team, especially with their ability to work with some structural anomalies in my 100 year old home. I just love my water saver new shower head ... I have never been able to get such great water pressure in the shower before, even with a complete plumbing overhaul in the past. And yet this saves water! Phenomenal.
The program is worth it for the light bulbs alone, which they installed, even in the recessed ceiling fixtures. Wow! What a treat!" -- Seaneen
About the Home Energy Squad - The Home Energy Squad will quickly assess your home's efficiency and make necessary installations to improve efficiency - all in one visit. You'll pay only the cost of materials - and the utility companies will pick up the cost of labor to for installation. That's a $200 value! For more information, visit HomeEnergySquad.net or call 866-222-4595. |
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Nonprofit in EIC gets free energy makeover | |
Xcel Energy and The Green Institute launched a free energy efficiency makeover for the Lao Family Community in Saint Paul. An energy audit determined ways the nonprofit could save energy and money. Those measures will be implemented over the coming months. Many community partners donated things like windows, programmable thermostats, LED (light emitting diode) lights and time to complete this project. The goal is to save the facility 15 percent annually in energy bills. Read an overview of the project. |
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Thanks for your continued interest and support of the Energy Innovation Corridor - Minnesota's showcase area - making energy-efficiency, renewable energy, smart technologies and transportation a reality.
Sincerely,
The Energy Innovation Corridor Communications Team | |
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| About
Energy Innovation Corridor | |
Located within one of the most unique urban communities in the country, the Energy Innovation Corridor was formed to create a sustainable energy and transportation showcase. The first-of-its-kind, this clean energy and transportation model extends along the 11-mile Central Corridor light rail transit project route, from downtown Saint Paul to Target Field in downtown Minneapolis, along Washington and University avenues, via the Minnesota State Capitol and entire University of Minnesota-Minneapolis campus. Visit our website.
Please forward this e-newletter to other interested parties and encourage them to join our mailing list! | |
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| Recycle Your Holidays™ holiday light recycling |  |
Minnesotans are encouraged to drop off their old, broken holiday lights at any participating Ace Hardware or the WCCO TV Plaza during the holiday season. View a map of all participating holiday light recycling locations. Recycle those lights! |
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$1,500 Federal energy tax credit to expire December 31 | |
Save up to $1,500 in federal income taxes by insulating your walls or attic, or installing an energy-efficient furnace or boiler. Projects must be complete by December 31, 2010. Check out details at ENERGY STAR. | |
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EIC boasts first EV charging station |  | |
Minnesota's first public-use electric vehicle charging station debuted this month in the Energy Innovation Corridor. This state-of-the art ChargePoint™ station is located in the First National Bank Building parking ramp in downtown Saint Paul. Drivers who utilize the station can track their fuel and greenhouse gas emission savings, as well as the amount of clean energy used to charge and operate their vehicle. It's also powered by Windsource®. Learn more. |
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PV powered apartments | |
 The Seven Corners apartments in Minneapolis recently installed a 40kW PV array. The array provides a carbon offset equivalent to 72,867 pounds of carbon. It's also saving 4,025 gallons of gas each year and saving the equivalent of 920 trees. Solarflow Energy installed 173 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftop of the apartments. This grid-tied installation uses 230 watt solar panels, a 39.79 kW DC system. Seven Corners is part of an innovative solar leasing pilot project through Solarflow Energy. The building will offset 11 percent of its common-area electrical use through solar PV. Learn more about the Seven Corners solar array.
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| Interested in LRT progress? |
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Sign up with the Metropolitan Council for updates about the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project construction. | |
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