In 2013, Minneapolis adopted their Climate Action Plan, which put into place a comprehensive set of emission reduction strategies. These strategies cover 3 areas: Buildings and energy, Transportation and land use, Waste and recycling.
For buildings and energy, the goal is to reduce energy usage by 17%, and generate 10% of electricity from local, renewable sources. On the residential building side of things, Minneapolis is proposing a "home energy audit" as part of the Truth In Housing program (TIH or TISH, Truth In Sale of Housing). This would require sellers to have an energy score when listing their house for sale. They are proposing that the TISH inspectors be trained to perform this component of the inspection process. The end result of this energy score would be a single number, for example 37 on a scale of 1 to 100. 100 would mean that the house would have virtually no energy costs.
Another part of this program is to make incentives for sellers to improve their homes energy-wise so that they can get a higher sale price due to energy efficiencies. If they don't, the buyers will at least have some knowledge about the energy efficiency of the house, making it an incentive to them to improve the house energy-wise.
Also on the residential side of things, Minneapolis is proposing a "time of rent" energy disclosure for renters. Renters currently have no way of knowing how much their utility bills will be before renting a unit. The disclosure would be mandated so that renters could compare units on energy efficiency. This would give incentives to the landlord (owners) to improve their buildings to make them more attractive to the rental market.
On the commercial side of things, some of them already have to do an energy score of sorts and disclose to purchasers. Minneapolis would like to extend that to all commercial buildings. They also have an Energy Reduction Challenge called the "Kilowatt Crackdown" to encourage commercial buildings to reduce usage.
For renewable energy, Minneapolis is trying to create policies that promote renewable energy, develop a "solar-ready" certification, and encourage "net-zero" buildings.
Making a building "solar-ready" adds virtually no cost at the time of construction, and would potentially have some value to purchasers. This would involve adding some structural supports and electrical conduit so that solar could be installed without adding structural support to the roof trusses, and/or digging in walls to add conduit. Both of these items can be added at a very low cost when in the construction phase.
What is a net-zero building? Basically net-zero means the building (or house) would generate all the energy it needs to power the building itself. This generally means that the building is super insulated so that it requires less energy to heat and cool the building, as well as solar panels to generate the energy it needs. Oftentimes this type of building uses geo-thermal heat pumps to heat and cool the building, running off solar energy. You can read more about "Net-Zero" buildings at this link.
You can read the entire action plan at the link below. Minneapolis Climate Action Plan:
http://www.minneapolismn.gov/sustainability/climate-action-goals/climate-action-planwas named for the civil rights activist following his death earlier in the year (October 9, 1968). Previously, the park had been called Nicollet Field. This park features a baseball field, basketball court, football field, playground, picnic area, a walking path, and more. It is known for the sculpture, Freedom Form #2, by nationally-renowned sculpture, Daniel LaRue Johnson, and honors Dr. King with its symbolism of friendship through outreach.
Blackbird Cafe is a contemporary yet down-to-earth restaurant that features local products and made-from-scratch dishes. They've been serving hearty fare to the neighborhood for over ten years, and they do it with a smile. Their menus are seasonal, but they always offer the ever-popular pickle plate. Some of the other dishes have been boudin blanc, a walleye po'boy, and squid ink tagliatelle. They have vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options as well.
Butter Bakery Cafe is a well known cafe that serves breakfast, sandwiches, and baked goods. Hop on over for live music and seating both in and outdoors. Butter Bakery Cafe is a family-run cafe that welcomes people of all kinds and ages.
Curran's is a cheerful and friendly family restaurant (and family-owned by a second-generation Curran, Dennis) with lots of American comfort food such as nachos, burgers, and chicken wings. They also have liver and onions, sandwiches, and a tub of chicken--that's what they call it on their menu. They started as a root beer float in 1948, and they have served the neighborhood ever since.
Visit Driftwood and enjoy live music, food, community, and ice cold beer.
Kyatchi is a contemporary Japanese restaurant that has both traditional Japanese dishes and more modern fare as well. They have won awards for both their sushi and their hot dogs. Hot dogs? Yes, hot dogs, which includes an avocado & egg hot dog with Japanese mayo. On the Japanese side, in addition to sushi (so much sushi--all the sushi), they have kushimomo (skewers), donburi, tempura and ramen. For dessert, try the ginger panna cotta, which is gluten-free. They believe in sustainable living, and they work with several local sources to ensure the highest quality of ingredients.
Nighthawks has had a tempestuous ride in its short existence. It was opened in 2015, threatened with closing down in late 2016, and is now going strong. It's a casually classy restaurant with elevated American classics such as a roast turkey dinner, hamburgers, eggs Benedict, and biscuit & gravy. They are also known for their huge pancakes, and they have put the pastrami sandwich back on the menu, much to the delight of their ardent customers.
Patisserie is an open and welcoming bakery/restaurant that strives to be a cozy gathering place for the like-minded to make a connection and a respite from a hectic schedule. They aim to serve pastries (and other food) that nourish the soul as well as the stomach. Their menu includes several kinds of breads such as croissants, baguettes, and miche, and other dishes such as quiche, Parisian flan, and artisan caramels. They also provide catering.
The Lowbrow is known as a cheery and bright spot to eat made-from-scratch comfort food with gluten-free options. Low Brow also offers vegetarian and vegan options, and their ingredients are locally grown on farms and sustainable. Their menu includes jalapeno hash, chorizo breakfast sausages, burgers, and a fried egg sandwich. They have different specials throughout the week, and on Mondays, they donate 10% of your bill to charity. They are a big believer in community.
Jump back in time with a signature wall of previous guests at Victor’s 1959 Cafe. Victor’s 1959 Cafe is a cozy Cuban restaurant with patio seating and a beautiful collection of wines. Get excited about Cuban food with the use of traditional recipes, owned locally with a strong focus on hospitality.
At Digs, you can purchase cushy accessories and fabrics. Get knitting and crocheting supplies and even sign up for a class.
Pick up a new and unique game at Tower Games. You can also paint miniature figures inside the store and attend a different gaming event everyday.
Visit Driftwood and enjoy live music, food, community, and ice cold beer.
In 2003, the Kingfield Neighborhood Association (KFNA) put together a project to create outdoor murals on various local businesses. This was done by professional artists and local neighborhood youth.
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