The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Editorials

March 29, 2009

Our View: Region should remain an ecology leader

A lot of energy is going into green these days.

At least it’s the renewable kind of energy that comes from a good night’s sleep and the aid of teamwork and solid planning.

The green movement has sprouted here in a variety of ways and today’s Progress 2009 special section, which begins on Page C1, gives a sampling of how the area is involved.

One of the biggest recent green projects is the opening of the Blue Earth County Justice Center on Mankato’s hilltop. The building is expected to receive LEED certification, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The certification will make it the greenest public building in south-central Minnesota. The center is made from numerous recyclable materials and uses geothermal wells to heat the building through 48 miles of tubing.

Minnesota State University’s new Trafton Science Center also took the green route when it comes to key features, including an energy-efficient heating system expected to save more than $180,000 annually.

Other measures may not be as bold as building a green structure from scratch, but area cities, counties, schools and colleges are switching to more efficient light bulbs, insulating windows, reducing water usage, using more efficient transportation, and planning more natural outdoor spaces.

In Lake Crystal, the School Board and city are hosting a green energy forum Tuesday, hoping a collaborative effort can make renewable energy a feasible investment. In Mankato the city has been awarded $167,000 in stimulus money to make its buildings more energy efficient.

Some of these these green tactics can be adapted by individuals as well. If everyone makes improvements, from weatherization to transportation choices, it will have a big cumulative effect when it comes to energy conservation.

Private businesses are getting on board, too. Mankato Place, the downtown entertainment and office complex, installed a solar-collection system that reduced electricity consumption by about 6 percent.

Rasmussen College in Mankato will host its first Sustainability Conference April 23, which will focus on environmental and energy efficient trends for small businesses.

The green movement is going to keep growing as the state and federal government focus on building up a new industry that makes environment a priority and takes steps toward reducing carbon emissions. This region is a green leader, an important position to be in for the future.

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