Edina Council Considers Carrots and Sticks to Help Businesses Go Green

Soon, Edina could become more energy-efficient and place a larger emphasis on recycling.

The Edina city council is considering a number of green measures, including making $1 million to $2 million in energy-efficient modifications to city buildings, increasing incentives of developers to build with sustainable practices and requiring new construction projects to make space for recycling.

Edina’s Energy and Environment Commission presented a number of tentative projects to the city council at a Tuesday evening work session.

Mayor James Hovland was intrigued by the possibility of setting minimum levels of energy-efficiency for Edina businesses.

“We don’t want to kill off development with energy standards that are so high, but there should be some things that are attainable and that we think are important as a community,” he said. “If we look at some code changes, it might be there are things in the ordinance that become rewards for them, so if you want 50 units per acre, you have to meet an elevated level of energy efficiency in your development.”

Multiple council members and energy commissioners noted that a change needed to be made to introduce energy efficiency into the conversation earlier when it came to development projects. The Braemar Golf Dome was named as an example of a project where the energy impact was largely ignored until late stages of development.

It’s better to “prepare your developers and redevelopers ahead of time for what the city’s expectations are,” council member Ann Swenson said.

A task force on business recycling recommended that the city change its zoning ordinance to require all new commercial construction and significant remodeling projects provide space for recycling.

“There is a financial and environmental case to be made to support business recycling,” said Sarah Zarrin, who chaired the task force.

The task force asked the city to “lead by example,” Zarrin said. “They do recycle, but they can do better” in terms of signage and bringing recycling capability to all city facilities, including city-owned liquor stores and banquet spaces.

Other proposals brought by the energy commission included

• city funding for an enhanced version of the Home Energy Squad

• an expansion of the Edina Emerald Energy Program—which gives business owners financial assistance for energy-related building improvements—to single-family residential properties; and

• greater hours and visibility for the city’s yard waste and organic recycling program.