Green Events

Rochesterfest is hosting a “Celebrate EarthFest” event on Friday, June 22 from 11:00am – 2:00pm at Soldiers Field Park. There will be a number of booths set up sharing ideas, information and demonstrations on how to live more sustainably. Partners include Rochester Public Works, 100% Rochester, Zumbro Valley Audubon Society, University of Minnesota Extension, Olmsted County Department of Environmental Resources, Sierra Club, Friends of Radish, XRG Concepts, Solar United Neighbors and the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota. The Citizens Utility Board is holding an energy bill clinic where you can meet personally with a CUB representative that will review your electric and natural gas bills and provide suggestions to reduce your energy consumption and help you save money. The link below provides additional information and directions on how to sign up for a free 20-minute bill consultation.
http://cubminnesota.org/th_event/rochesterfest-celebrate-earthfest-cub-tabling-and-energy-bill-clinic-event/

Hi all, sorry for the late notice on this one but if you're in Rochester, the DMC is hosting an event today at noon as part of its monthly Sustainability Series.

Date/Time: July 18, noon - 1 pm
Location: Rochester Public Library - Meeting Room B (2nd Floor)
Topic: Thermal Resilience - What is it, how does it relate to resiliency and why is it important to consider for workforce housing?

Feel free to bring your lunch or grab something to eat there (light appetizers served).

The Rochester Green Committee is partnering with Parking and Transportation to bring you an opportunity to attend a People Friendly Driver lecture on September 12th, 8-9 am in Gonda 19-101. This presentation is also available via webcast for those offsite. The lecture will be presented by Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota representatives.

The People Friendly Driver Program aims to educate all motorists on safe driving behaviors around people who are walking or biking. Many communities across the country are shifting towards more sustainable modes of transportation including bicycling and walking. With increased interactions between motorists and people walking and biking, educating motorists on best practices could help prevent approximately 50% of the serious and fatal crashes that are the fault of the driver. This program is open to drivers, walkers and bicyclists alike.

Please share with interested colleagues!

Bike Commuter 101 Course at the Rochester Public Library, presented by We Bike Rochester

Date/Time: October 10, 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Rochester Public Library – Meeting Room B (2nd Floor)

The presentation will provide instruction on how drivers can safely share the road as well as offer helpful tips for commuting by bicycle (equipment like locks, lights and bags; clothing and maintenance). The presentation is free and open to the public.
https://rochesterpubliclibrary.librarymarket.com/events/commuter-101

City of La Crosse Wisconsin - Home Energy Challenge

Let's Make a Difference For Your Home and Our Community --
Receive Up to $4,100 When You Make Energy Efficiency Improvements

Cold air leaks around your windows or not enough insulation in your attic or walls can cause rooms to feel drafty and uncomfortable, and not to mention high winter and summer utility bills. The City of La Crosse and our partners, Focus on Energy and Xcel Energy, are here to help City of La Crosse homeowners and landlords solve your home's comfort issues through a new program -- City of La Crosse Mayor's Home Energy Challenge.

Mayor Kabat's Home Energy Challenge makes it easier than ever to increase the comfort of your home and save energy with incentives up to $4,100 available from the City of La Crosse and our partners. The Challenge is only open to the first 100 property owners who sign up before Friday, November 16. The best part is incentives available from the City of La Crosse and our partners may cover a large portion of your home improvement costs.

How It Works
Sign up for the Mayor's Home Energy Challenge
Call 608.789.7513 or http://www.cityoflacrosse.org/energychallenge

Schedule your home energy assessment
The City of La Crosse will connect you with a qualified contractor to evaluate your home's insulation levels, heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, and more. The cost of the is assessment is $350; however if you meet the "Tier 2" income qualification, the cost of the assessment is just $50.

Receive a custom energy report
After your assessment, you'll get a full report outlining the most cost-effective ways to increase your comfort and energy efficiency of your home and available incentives to help make the improvements more affordable.

Complete your home improvements and access incentives up to $4,100
The City of La Crosse will be with you every step of the way, from reviewing recommendations to coordinating installation, on through the incentive process and reviewing finance options for eligible homeowners.

Sign up today
Enrollment is only open to the first 100 homes and ends Friday, November 16. To get started, call the City of La Crosse at 608.789.7513 or complete the sign up form and a City representative will get into contact with you. Download the Challenge Fact Sheet for reference or to share with your neighbors.

Presentation: The Value of Investing with Impact: Sustainability and Wellness

Date: Tuesday, October 9th
Time: 6:30-7:15 pm reception, 7:15-8:30 pm panel discussion & Q&A
Location: Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center
Hosted by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

The event will explore investing with impact and how investors can implement sustainability and wellness in their lives improving both physical and financial wellness. The event will feature sustainably sourced food and includes an interactive panel discussion with on Mayo Clinic's dieticians and three of the industry leaders in sustainable and impact investing.

Please RSVP to Cathy Olson, Senior SCA at 507-281-0403 or at catherine.v.olson@ms.com.

DMC Sustainability Series Presentation - New Home Construction and Energy Efficiency with XRG Concepts - Where should homeowners prioritize their design?

Date: October 10
Time: noon - 1 pm
Location: Rochester Public Library, Meeting Room B

Light appetizers served or feel free to bring your lunch.

The 16th Annual National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 27th. If you're in the Rochester area, you can drop off unused medications from 10 am - 2 pm.

Date: Saturday, October 27
Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Mayo Clinic Gonda Building, West Entrance, Patient Drop-off Area (200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN)

Not in the Rochester area? Visit https://takebackday.dea.gov for a collection site near you. Disposing of medications safely and responsibly prevents medication misuse.

Not to be missed! You're invited to a special showing of Jeff Bridges' award-winning documentary "Living in the Future's Past" with discussion/Q&A to follow with cast member Dr. Nate Hagens.

When: Thursday, December 6, 2018
Time: 7:00 pm (doors open at 6:00 pm for social hour)
Location: Rochester Civic Theatre (presented in the Black Box Theatre)
Tickets: $10 (proceeds benefit Rochester EarthFest) Available at Rochester Civic Theatre Box Office

The documentary brings a fresh perspective on being human for our challenging times and asks "What Kind of Future Would You Like to See?"

Living in the Future's Past bypasses ideological traps and looks "under the hood" of humanity, incorporating elements of evolution, neuropsychology, emergence, ecology and energy into a paradigm shift in the way we think about environmental challenges and providing fresh insights into our subconscious motivations and their unintended consequences.

Dr. Nate Hagens is the Director of the Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future and a professor of science at the University of Minnesota. Bio: http://www.livinginthefuturespastfilm.com/nate-hagens-bio

Preview the film: https://www.livinginthefuturespastfilm.com/

The showing is sponsored by Destination Medical Center, City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic and Rochester Green Drinks.

DMC Sustainability Series Presentation – Building Sustainable and Affordable Housing in Rochester

Description: First Homes is currently initiating neighborhood revitalization, in-fill, new-build, and single-family home projects. A goal of First Homes is to make these houses as energy-efficient as possible in order to reduce total cost of ownership for the tenants. First Homes aims to achieve this through high performance house design, neighborhood organization and energy-efficient components. First Homes, in collaboration with CRW Architecture, is working to design these homes. Recently, this team attended Greenbuild to workshop this project with experts from across the country in order to gain more insights into sustainable and economically feasible affordable housing.

Date: March 13
Time: noon – 1 pm
Location: Rochester Public Library

Healthy snacks will be provided or feel free to bring your lunch.