UPDATE: Please confirm with host organizations about the status of listed events. Many in-person events have been cancelled, or there may be virtual options for some events.
See our Upcoming Events page, or check our community calendar below for upcoming green community events in Minnesota, or submit your own event!
Events in July–August 2020
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- Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
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July 1, 2020Come to our toy lending event to become a member of the toy library. Access to over 1,000 toys appropriate for children age birth to 5.
Richfield Lutheran Church8 W 60th StRichfield, MN 55419 -
- Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
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July 15, 2020Come to our toy lending event to become a member of the toy library. Access to over 1,000 toys appropriate for children age birth to 5.
Richfield Lutheran Church8 W 60th StRichfield, MN 55419 -
- Pull invasive knapweed at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA
Pull invasive knapweed at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA
Pull invasive knapweed at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA
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July 23, 2020Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) on Thursday, July 23, from 6-8 pm to help protect Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific & Natural Area (SNA), an award-winning restoration site known for some of the best views of the Upper Mississippi River.
We will remove invasive species, like knapweed, currently encroaching on the native prairie. Minnesota's native bees and local wildlife depend on this rare habitat and the native plants that grow there. With their deeper root systems, the native prairie plants also provide erosion control and filter pollution that would otherwise run down the bluffs into the Mississippi River below.
As always, all tools and training will be provided and volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level. Volunteers should be aware the Pine Bend Bluffs SNA site contains steep and sometimes difficult-to-navigate terrain. All are welcome, however, registration is required. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
To learn more and register, visit https://fmr.org/events/2020/07/23/pull-invasive-knapweed-pine-bend-bluffs-snaPine Bend Bluffs SNAInver Grove Heights, MN -
- Call-in Utility Bill Clinic
Call-in Utility Bill Clinic
Call-in Utility Bill Clinic
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July 24, 2020Would you like to save energy and money on your gas and electric bills? Would you like to learn more about how to be more energy efficient, or learn about renewable options in your area? Have you ever been confused by your bill? What do all the charges mean?
Sign up for a 30-minute energy consultation via phone during this call-in utility bill clinic. A CUB expert will review your home energy bills, answer your energy-related questions, and give you personalized suggestions to reduce energy usage and save money. Please email us a copy of your utility bills beforehand so we can give you the most detailed feedback possible! CUB staff will give you a call at the registered date and time slot.
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- Repairing and Restoring Old Windows
Repairing and Restoring Old Windows
Repairing and Restoring Old Windows
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July 25, 2020Ever think to yourself, are my wood windows worth saving? Can I repair them myself? Will I save money on my energy bill? (Answers: Yes, yes, and yes!)
Join window specialist Paul Schmidt for a day all about windows. Paul will dispel common myths about old wood windows, explain the difference between original and replacement windows, and demonstrate common repairs that you can do at home. You'll get a thorough overview on how to repair drafts, reglaze windows, fix rotted wood, and improve overall window operation. Most importantly, you'll learn why old wood windows can be just as energy efficient as replacements.
Hosted at the Sherburne History Center in Becker, this workshop considers the unique challenges facing homeowners hoping to tackle rehab or restoration projects in their older homes.
This class is part of the rehab education program of Rethos: Places Reimagined in partnership with the Morrison Co. Historical Society. We are proud to offer a variety of classes for homeowners, students, Realtors, and others who love old buildings. The Rethos education program is funded in part by the Arts & Cultural Legacy Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Partial funding for this project was also provided by Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs).
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- Webinar: Beneficial Electrification in the 21st Century!
Webinar: Beneficial Electrification in the 21st Century!
Webinar: Beneficial Electrification in the 21st Century!
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July 28, 2020Beneficial Electrification (BE) has emerged as the consensus terminology describing the positive economic and environmental benefits inherent within the declining carbon intensity of electricity. If Energy-Efficiency can get us half the way there, BE and Clean Energy can get us all the way to Sustainability! BE efforts are underway from coast to coast, targeted to reduce overall GHG emissions from all sectors of the economy. Every ‘pathway study’ and ‘national assessment’ shows the potential for significant emissions reductions, primarily attributed to efficiency gains, the ‘greening of the grid’, and increased electrification.
Hear from advocates, planners and practitioners about the BE efforts currently underway and gain a better understanding of this tremendous opportunity.
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- Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
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July 29, 2020Come to our toy lending event to become a member of the toy library. Access to over 1,000 toys appropriate for children age birth to 5.
Richfield Lutheran Church8 W 60th StRichfield, MN 55419 -
- Webinar: Charging up with Volkswagen Settlement Funds
Webinar: Charging up with Volkswagen Settlement Funds
Webinar: Charging up with Volkswagen Settlement Funds
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July 30, 2020Is your community, non-profit, or business interested in hosting an electric vehicle (EV) charging station? Want to learn more about potential funding through the Volkswagen Settlement fund? Don’t know what that is and want to learn more? Join the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) and Drive Electric Minnesota for a webinar to learn about these topics and more!
We will have a VERY brief overview of Minnesota’s portion of the Volkswagen Settlement and timeline, followed by some examples from Phase 1 and some discussion to prepare you for Phase 2 funding that is coming out this summer, fall, and beyond. Hear from the developer for the fast chargers along MN corridors and from charging station host sites about their experience and lessons learned as part of the grant process. We hope this webinar will help prepare your community for installing an EV charger with potential funding from the Volkswagen Settlement. This free webinar is hosted by CERTs and Drive Electric MN.
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- Webinar: Charging up! Developments in EVSE, Webinar: Applying EV Lessons from CA to the Midwest
Webinar: Charging up! Developments in EVSE
Webinar: Charging up! Developments in EVSE
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August 4, 2020The electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) market is predicted to experience a 10.7% compound annual growth rate during the forecast period (2020-2025) and see an increase in its revenue to $2.7 billion in 2025, from $1.5 billion in 2019. The market is being positively impacted by the increasing sale of electric vehicles, investments being poured in by manufacturers, and government support for installing such charging stations. Learn from a panel of experts about Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) and the latest development in EV chargers for both residential and business applications. Explore how the relatively recent appearance of ENERGY STAR®-rated Level 2 chargers is impacting the EVSE marketplace and how these chargers can be combined with utility programs to shave peak demands and eliminate demand charges.
Webinar: Applying EV Lessons from CA to the MidwestWebinar: Applying EV Lessons from CA to the Midwest
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August 4, 2020Drawing on lessons from California, this webinar focuses on benefits to the electric vehicle (EV) industry from a Midwestern program. In this webinar, you will:
Gain a better understanding of how EVs and charging stations would generate credits
See the Great Plains Institute's (GPI’s) analysis showing modeled credit revenues according to various scenarios
Hear from Midwestern companies on how a clean fuels policy could support transportation electrification initiatives in the Midwest.
Webinar attendees will be among the first to see GPI’s analysis on credit revenue scenarios for various low carbon fuels and have a chance to offer feedback following the webinars.In the coming months, GPI will host webinars on other clean fuels including ethanol, compressed natural gas, biodiesel, and others. Indicate your interest in attending these webinars on the registration form, and you’ll be automatically invited.
Don’t want to wait until the webinar to learn more? Find out what the Midwestern Clean Fuels Policy is all about by downloading a copy of the white paper, A Clean Fuels Policy for the Midwest.
Feel free to forward this invitation to others in your network who might be interested in attending!
For any questions regarding either webinar or the webinar series, or if you have trouble registering, please contact Hannah Haas at hhaas@gpisd.net.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize the very serious near-term human and economic challenges you may be facing. We also understand that you are faced with evolving priorities in this unprecedented time. These webinars will be recorded so that you can tune in now or later.
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- Webinar: Managing Electrification + Load Off-Peak, Lop sprouting buckthorn in the river gorge
Webinar: Managing Electrification + Load Off-Peak
Webinar: Managing Electrification + Load Off-Peak
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August 6, 2020With electrification all the rage, a significant component of electrification being beneficial is keeping added electrical load off the utility peak demand. Hear from leading experts who will describe how programs are keeping load off-peak with pricing plans and load management techniques as components of the beneficial electrification efforts.
Lop sprouting buckthorn in the river gorgeLop sprouting buckthorn in the river gorge
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August 6, 2020Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) on Thursday, August 6, from 6-8 pm, for an evening of working along the beautiful Mississippi River on the Minneapolis side of the river gorge.
We will be furthering the process of buckthorn removal at this site. Last year, we cut buckthorn branches to stack into wildlife habitat piles. While cutting buckthorn in the fall prevented a crop of berries from dropping and spreading this year, the stems have begun to resprout.
To further this restoration project, we will cut back sprouting buckthorn and bag the stems, preventing new branches from starting. We'll take the bags off in the fall as we continue to restore this area.
As always, all tools and training will be provided and volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace and comfort level. While the worksite is on relatively flat terrain, access to the site is only by a steep staircase. Due to tools and access, this event is not suitable for small children. All adult volunteers are welcome, but registration is required. Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
To learn more and register, visit https://fmr.org/events/2020/08/06/lop-sprouting-buckthorn-river-gorgeMississippi River GorgeMinneapolis, MN 55406US -
- Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
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August 12, 2020Come to our toy lending event to become a member of the toy library. Access to over 1,000 toys appropriate for children age birth to 5.
Richfield Lutheran Church8 W 60th StRichfield, MN 55419 -
- Lop Sumac at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA
Lop Sumac at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA
Lop Sumac at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA
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August 18, 2020Located in Cottage Grove, this spectacular Scientific and Natural Area (SNA) features two sandy terraces along the Mississippi river. The first rises 40 to 60 feet above river-level with remarkable crescents and blowouts sculpted by southwesterly winds. The second, 110 feet above the Mississippi, has a dramatic cut-face. Dunes on both terraces rise in waves, cresting 10 to 20 feet above the swales. Grey Cloud Dunes SNA is a sight to see! Help us further our restoration efforts at this special site.
Home to a rare dry prairie, this area provides essential native bee, butterfly and wildlife habitat. After a brief orientation and a short hike, volunteers will work with FMR ecologists to help remove sumac, an aggressive native shrub that would otherwise overtake this vital habitat. Other tending and restoration tasks may also be needed.
All tools and training will be provided at the event, and no experience is necessary. All volunteers are encouraged to work at their own pace. However, due to tool usage, including loppers and saws, this event is not suitable for youth. The designation of this type of park is meant to protect rare, fragile plant and animal habitat, please note Grey Cloud SNA does not feature amenities – trails or restrooms.
We will work in a small, socially distant group. Besides helping prevent the spread of COVID-19, smaller group size will allow us to tread lightly on this special place and also to make sure everyone has a chance to ask questions about the site's ecology and the many native plants and flowers sure to be in bloom on this summer evening.
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- Sustainability and Resiliency Planning in Southeast Minnesota
Sustainability and Resiliency Planning in Southeast Minnesota
Sustainability and Resiliency Planning in Southeast Minnesota
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August 19, 2020Local government staff and sustainability commission members are invited to join the cities of Faribault, Northfield, Red Wing, and Rochester, share their lessons learned. City staff from each of these cities will join us for a panel discussion about their recent work with comprehensive, energy, and climate planning. Panelists will take questions. The last 45 minutes will be reserved for small group discussions and networking with the panelists.
This free webinar is hosted by Minnesota GreenStep and Southeast Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT).
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- Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
Toy Lending Event
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August 26, 2020Come to our toy lending event to become a member of the toy library. Access to over 1,000 toys appropriate for children age birth to 5.
Richfield Lutheran Church8 W 60th StRichfield, MN 55419
