In 2019, the City of Minnetonka joined Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program in an effort to assess citywide energy use and develop an Energy Action Plan.

Visit our Partners in Energy page for complete details about the program.

In 2013, Minnetonka joined Minnesota GreenStep Cities, a voluntary program to help cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The program, launched in 2010, is based upon 29 best practices that focus on cost savings, energy use reduction and innovation. The program includes five steps of recognition and 127 participating cities.

Minnetonka advanced to Step 4 in 2019, which makes the city just one of 21 cities to reach Step 4 or 5. Step 4 recognizes cities that have recorded a year’s worth of metrics regarding sustainability best practices in categories such as buildings and lighting, transportation, land use and environmental management.

Overall, the city has met 41 best-practice actions, including efforts to add a sustainable purchasing policy and provide resources to businesses to assist with energy and sustainability audits.

Visit Minnetonka’s GreenStep Cities profile.

The city participates in Xcel Energy’s solar garden program. All city buildings, street lights and water systems are fully subscribed to receive solar energy from community solar gardens. Minnetonka is one of a few cities in the state – and the entire country – fully subscribed to solar gardens.

The solar garden subscriptions significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint and has significant cost savings.

Visit Minnetonka's solar energy page to learn more about the city's solar energy subscriptions and solar energy options for residents.

Minnetonka is one of 23 Minnesota cities involved in the Regional Indicators Initiative, which measures citywide performance through key indicators to assess progress and increase efficiency and sustainability.

The initiative collects data about energy, water, travel and waste, and calculates greenhouse gas emissions and costs associated with each indicator.

Visit regionalindicatorsmn.com to learn more and explore the data.

The city provides public building energy consumption data to the B3 Benchmarking program, which helps the city monitor and improve energy consumption at our facilities.

Visit mn.b3benchmarking.com to learn more, and click here to view Minnetonka’s data.

Recycling

The city contracts with Republic Services to provide bi-weekly recycling services to residents. An annual recycling guide and calendar is distributed to all participating residents.

Organics recycling

In 2019, the city received a grant from Hennepin County to provide a free year of curbside organics recycling to the first 150 new customers. Visit Organics Recycling to learn more.

The city began collecting organics at its recycling drop-off center in 2019.

Drop-off sites and annual event

Businesses and residents may drop off recyclables at the city’s recycling drop-off center 24/7. The center is located on the east side of the public works facility at 11522 Minnetonka Blvd.

The city collects brush, leaves and yard waste from Minnetonka residents and businesses free of charge at select times. Collected material is turned into mulch, which residents can pick up for free.

The city hosts a Special Community Drop-off Day two Saturdays each year, where residents can dispose of large household items for a small fee.

The city's natural resources division protects Minnetonka's natural resources and equips residents to join our efforts.

• Education: We offer education across the following platforms to increase conservation efforts: online, monthly Minnetonka Memo articles, monthly emails and multi-faceted promotional campaigns.

• Programs: We offer a variety of programs, workshops and volunteer opportunities. Stay tuned to Natural Resources Events for upcoming events.

• Tree Sale: Each year, the city hosts an online tree sale to allow residents to purchase a variety of trees at a reduced costs. More than 16,000 young trees have been sold since 2007, which increases the diversity and resilience of our community forest, not to mention the positive impact on the environment.

• Tree City USA: In 2019, Minnetonka received its 25th-straight “Tree City USA” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for meeting specific benchmarks and its commitment to its community forest.

• Mayor’s Monarch Pledge: Minnetonka annually participates in the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, which commits the city to action items to help save the monarch butterfly and other important pollinators.

Energy-efficient initiatives and improvements are incorporated into all city facility renovation and building projects.

The city’s public works facility has been Energy Star certified for three years, which means the building saves energy, money and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings.

The city is committed to connecting residents and businesses to programs and initiatives that help the environment:

• Home Energy Squad – The city partnered with the Home Energy Squad, a team of energy consultants that visit homes for a $100 fee to evaluate opportunities to go green and save money. In 2019, the city paid for half of the first 140 households to schedule a visit. Learn more at the Home Energy Squad website.

• Solar Energy – The city has partnered with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Solar Twin Cities to host information sessions that teach residents and businesses the benefits of solar energy and how to get involved in solar group buys.

• Energy Bill Consultations – In 2019, the city is hosting the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, which offers free 20-minute energy bill consultations.

• Home Energy Squad – Schedule a $100 home consultation with the Home Energy Squad to improve your home’s efficiency and save money. In 2020, the city will pay half of the $100 fee for the first 280 homes to schedule a visit. Learn more at mncee.org/home-energy-squad/minnetonka.
  • The Home Energy Squad is offering free virtual visits during COVID-19. Learn more. 
    
    
• Solar energy – Visit our solar energy page to learn more about benefits and opportunities for residents. 
  
  
• Energy bill consultations – Thanks to the Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota, residents can sign up for a free 20-minute energy bill consultation on July 9, 2019 at the Minnetonka Community Center between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.
  
  
• Xcel Energy - Provides a wide variety of energy efficiency, expertise and rebate programs
  
  
• CenterPoint Energy – Efficiency programs can help residents and businesses lower energy use, save money and earn rebates.
  
  
• Center for Energy and Environment – Offers a number of loan programs to help home owners and rental properties improve efficiency
  • Solar financing
  • Home Energy Loan Program
  • Home Improvements Loan Program
  • Rental Energy Loan Program

Recycling

The city contracts with Republic Services to provide bi-weekly recycling services to residents. An annual recycling guide and calendar is distributed to all participating residents.

Organics recycling

In 2019, the city received a grant from Hennepin County to provide a free year of curbside organics recycling to the first 150 new customers. Visit Organics Recycling to learn more.

The city began collecting organics at its recycling drop-off center in 2019.

Drop-off sites and annual event

Businesses and residents may drop off recyclables at the city’s recycling drop-off center 24/7. The center is located on the east side of the public works facility at 11522 Minnetonka Blvd.

The city collects brush, leaves and yard waste from Minnetonka residents and businesses free of charge at select times. Collected material is turned into mulch, which residents can pick up for free.

The city hosts a Special Community Drop-off Day two Saturdays each year, where residents can dispose of large household items for a small fee.

Check out these easy best practices to help Minnetonka go green!

• Laundry – Run your washer on cold when possible – it uses 85 percent less energy than hot water. And air-drying your clothes cuts energy use, and drying racks can double as a natural humidifier during winter.

• Lighting: Use LED or fluorescent light bulbs. LEDs use 90 percent less energy than standard bulbs and last 10 times longer. Fluorescent lighting will also last much longer and save up to 70 percent more energy.

• Pollinators – Plant a garden to attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Pollinators are essential to maintain a healthy ecosystem.

• Trees – Plant trees and tall shrubs on your property to provide shade and protection from wind to help your energy costs. Plant (especially evergreens) on the east and west sides of your homes, don’t plant in front of south-facing windows and keep trees 10-to-50 feet from your home.

• Water – To conserve water in the summer, convert lawns to native landscapes, keep grass at least two inches tall, water early in the morning, put shut-off nozzles on hoses, collect rain in a water barrel and use a broom instead of a hose to clean off surfaces.

• Appliances – Replace and clean furnace, air conditioner and dryer filters regularly; clean your refrigeration coils; use a programmable thermostat.

• Pipes – Insulate water pipes to help hot water flow faster.

• Runoff – Keep the pavement clean – don’t let fertilizer, soil, grease, leaves, grass clippings or anything else wash into the storm sewer; rain gardens and rain barrels can help capture and re-use runoff.