Greetings!
Welcome to the July edition 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 email. |
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It's a first! Marquette Plaza is LEED Platinum certified |  Marquette Plaza, a 522,000 square foot, 15-story office building, is the first downtown Minneapolis building to earn LEED Platinum certification. This status, granted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is the most prestigious and challenging level of LEED certification to achieve and illustrates the building's transformation and leadership in the greening of downtown. Attaining the certification is due to the rigorous series of efforts and implementations by the property manager Base Management and 22 building tenants, which include: Xcel Energy, Federal Government agencies, Foley & Mansfield, Meet Minneapolis and CenturyLink. From lowering energy use and costs, to better lighting and air quality, reduced water usage and landfill waste, utilizing renewable energy - and it even has a green roof! Be sure to check out all the benefits of this showcase effort. |
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Union Depot's revitalization goal is LEED Silver transportation hub |  The Union Depot in downtown St. Paul is being revitalized into a multimodal transit center in the heart of a thriving urban neighborhood. When completed in 2012, the revitalized Union Depot will feature a green overlook to the Mississippi River with views up and downstream to an active working riverfront. There will be light rail, local and inter-city bus service, taxis, Amtrak service-and in the future-commuter rail and high speed rail to Chicago. Along with motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrian traffic, this will create a magnet for shopping and entertainment. The project will vie for LEED Silver certification, utilizing innovative environmental and energy efficient techniques. The building will feature charging stations for electric cars and a secure bicycle facility that includes amenities for cyclists such as showers and lockers. This exciting showcase project has lots to offer.
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It's another first! U of M's Donhowe is ENERGY STAR rated
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 The University of Minnesota's Donhowe Building, located at the corner of 15th and University avenues, is the first campus building to be rated as an ENERGY STAR Building by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To earn the Energy Star rating, the Donhowe Building's energy consumption data (including building hours, size, number of occupants and types of lighting systems) were compared to hundreds of similar buildings. Buildings that are more energy efficient than 75 percent of all similar buildings qualify for the Energy Star label. The Donhowe building earned a rating of 88, meaning its energy efficiency rates in the top 12 percent of all office buildings. View the statement of energy performance.
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Mayors celebrate Nice Ride expansion
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 Mayors Chris Coleman and R.T. Rybak recently celebrated the expansion of Nice Ride with a bike ride from Minneapolis to Saint Paul. Nice Ride is expanding into Saint Paul and adding more stations in Minneapolis. "The expansion of Nice Ride into Saint Paul isn't just a new opportunity to connect our two cities, but provides and promotes a convenient way to get to the businesses along Central Corridor," Mayor Coleman said. Mayor Rybak said, "The expansion plan is a great testament to how much the program has exceeded everyone's expectations. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul region's thriving bike community and creative transit solutions are what makes this region known as one of America's greatest bike communities." The 2011 Nice Ride expansion is funded by Transit for Livable Communities, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the Central Corridor Funders Collaborative, and the Macalester College High Winds Fund. See the map of the Nice Ride expansion.
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Electric Vehicles: Can they work in Minnesota?
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 Attend this free seminar from the American Lung Association in Minnesota. August 17, 2011, 6:30 -8:00 p.m. Seating is limited so you must register! Contact Courtney at 651.262.5084.
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Save money and energy | |
Water heater replacement saves energy and money
After home heating, hot water is the second largest user of energy in the home - accounting for 15 percent of total energy use. Replacing a water heater when upgrading a heating system or before it leaks will save time and money. With CenterPoint Energy's Water Heater rebates, CenterPoint Energy residential natural gas customers in Minnesota can receive a rebate up to $100 when a qualifying natural gas storage tank water heater is installed. Get more details and complete rebate requirements.
50% bonus on T12 Lighting Rebates
Due to the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Regulations, the manufacture of nearly all inefficient T12 fluorescent lighting will be phased out in 2012 and will no longer be available for purchase. For a limited-time, get bonus rebates for T12 - T8 retrofit, T12 - T8 optimization and T12 - T5 retrofit measures. Beginning March 8, 2011 through March 31, 2012, all Xcel Energy Minnesota electric business customers are eligible for up to a 50 percent bonus rebate - above and beyond current rebate levels - for these select T12 upgrades*. Rebates cannot exceed 75 percent of cost. On April 1, 2012, bonus rebate will be reduced to 30 percent so act now to maximize your rebate potential. Rebates for T12 upgrades will not be offered from Xcel Energy after December 31, 2012.
Bonus rebates also are available to Xcel Energy small business customers through the One-Stop Efficiency Shop lighting program, offered by Center for Energy and Environment (CEE). Contact CEE at (612) 335-3487 for more information or to schedule a free lighting audit. *For T12 - T8 retrofit, T12 - T8 optimization and T12 - T5 retrofit measures only. Rebates subject to fixture wattage and other variables. All other eligible lighting rebate levels remain unchanged.
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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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Measuring the EIC
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Ever wonder how the EIC measures up?
Stop wondering and check it out. Results are posted on the EIC website. Current results are as of March 31, 2011. | | |
| Interested in a green career? |  |
Learn what green means. Explore green careers and green jobs, and start planning your green education. ISEEK is Minnesota's Comprehensive career, education and jobs resource. |
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Save the date:
Xcel Energy's Energy Efficiency Expo |  | |
Business and trade customers:
Save the date!
September 15, 2011
7:30 am - 1:00 pm
Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Park
Stay tuned for more information. |
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About
Energy Innovation Corridor
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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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| Interested in LRT progress? |  | |
Sign up with the Metropolitan Council for updates about the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit project construction. |
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