Clean energy and efficient buildings

Convert systems that use fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources in county buildings?Invest in infrastructure updates that reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency in county-owned buildings.  

Convert systems that use fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources in county buildings?

Expand training for county facilities managers on best practices for reducing energy use. 

Create renewable energy guidelines for county-owned buildings. 

Explore options for an internal county financial energy reduction incentive encourage and expand department-based reductions in energy use, including facilities and transportation energy. 

Evaluate reuse/recovery of wasted thermal energy to heat and cool existing buildings. 

Adopt requirements based on best management practices for reducing energy use for county programs that invest in new or rehabbed buildings. 

Encourage developers of new county-owned or county-funded housing construction and rehabilitation to plan for resiliency/adaptation (e.g., electrification, waterproofing, raising mechanical devices, and coordinating with energy improvements, installing passive cooling building and landscape features), while increasing affordability and maintaining urban density. 

Research options for lowering energy burden through design criteria for affordable housing. 

Adapt energy goals for county-owned buildings utilizing real-time monitoring of building energy consumption and recommend strategies to reduce energy use. 

Identify opportunities to consolidate and streamline programs providing energy assistance, weatherization, and utility efficiency. Make them easier to access, navigate and scale up in multifamily and single-family buildings. Develop strategies for renters and homeowners - especially in multi-family housing upgrades and for underrecognized and climate vulnerable communities. 

Share clear guidance on alternative energy resources for Ramsey County cities to share with residents. 

Develop policies and support community-based organizations to ensure efficient and functional heating/cooling is provided to tenants. 

Research options for financially supporting underrepresented and climate-vulnerable residents to save money by using alternative energy at home. 

Adopt standards for incorporating climate resiliency into design and construction for county development projects. 

Support and promote adaptive reuse of existing buildings to reduce construction waste and carbon emissions. 

Create a policy around electric vehicle readiness in county facilities. 

Support recycling of construction waste that cannot be reused in the construction market. Investing in the development and expansion of recycling markets for building materials. 

Promote the use of low-carbon and reused and recycled construction materials in new building designs. 

Expand deconstruction and reuse of construction materials where demolition cannot be avoided.