Sustainable NYE City #5: Minneapolis, Minnesota

Our NYE sustainable city countdown simply wouldn’t be complete without the Midwestern heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Admittedly, I have to give you the full disclaimer: I have spent the last four years of my life soaking up the goodness and green-ness that is Minneapolis and it also happens to be the home base of Social Earth. Nonetheless, my suggestions aren’t entirely biased. Sustain Lane voted Minneapolis 7^th place in its 2008 Sustainable Cities feature and it is also ranked 8^th in the nation for the most EnergyStar-certified buildings, among other notifications.

It’s (or our) achievements have a lot to do with our visionary mayor, R.T. Rybak. Aside from personally driving a hybrid, Rybak has worked hard to set a city-wide example for sustainability. Specifically, he has developed Sustainability Indicators, a 10 year “green-print” that measures the long-term issues of climate change, community health, and housing. He has launched numerous initiatives to ensure that Minneapolis remains one of the most bike-friendly cities in the nation, best known for its 5.5 mile Midtown Greenway that stretches from one and of the city to the other – taking over the remnants of an old railroad track.

In the summer, Minneapolis becomes inundated with farmer’s markets, local fairs, and community activities as well. A leisurely walk downtown will afford you the view of more than one green building and I should also give a shout-out to our long-stand local restaurants – Common Roots, Spoonriver, and Birchwood Café – to name a few. Even the University of Minnesota is in on the game. The U of M was one of the leading universities in developing a Sustainability degree – the program through which I was accredited.

I know what you’re thinking – that’s great and green and all – but it’s so #@$%^ cold in Minnesota!  You’d rather go some place warm for the holidays, I know. Yet any Minnesotan will tell you – there’s nothing like starting the New Year with a polar plunge or a naked below zero bike ride…You’ll never take anything for granted again!