Everyday Sustainability

• Do it Green! Minnesota is a guidebook that helps educate Minnesotans about green and sustainable living and building a healthy, local community. The website provides extensive information from the guidebook, and a Green Community Calendar for Minnesota.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Living Green provides resources for residents and business owners on how to live green.
• Greener Choices provides credible, in-depth information on green products, services, and lifestyles.

Landscaping

• Blue Thumb is an Educational resource for planting a native garden, rain garden, or shoreline stabilization
• Landscaping with Native Plants is published by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and provides information on how to landscape with native plants.
• Rain barrels offer a resourceful way to keep rainwater on your property that may be later used to water your gardens while reducing your water bill.  Composting can offer rich soil for use in your yard.  Washington County offers rain barrels and compost containers for sale for residents, click here for information.

Energy Conservation

• Energy Star Program - Offers information on how to save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.
• Xcel Energy – Save Energy, Money and Buy Renewable Energy - Website helps to analyze energy use for your entire home and provides information on ways to increase efficiency. In addition, you can purchase renewable energy through Windsource.
• Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment - Offers several programs that are tailored to make improvements affordable. Programs include grants for non-profit organizations, zero-interest loans for residential customers, and low interest loans for commercial customers.
• Minnesota Waste Wise - Provides environmental sustainability consulting to Minnesota businesses and organizations
• Minnesota Technical Assistance Program - Helps businesses implement industry-tailored solutions that prevent pollution at the source, maximize efficient use of resources, and reduce energy use and costs to improve public health and the environment.
• Minnesota RETAP - Provides environmental facility assessments and community sustainability assistance to Minnesota's businesses, institutions, and communities at no cost.

Building Green

• Where to find green building products - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has compiled a directory of green building products and resources
• U.S. Green Building Council - Provides resources for building green
• Guide to Green Mortgages - Provides information on green mortgages