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Guide to Green

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Top Questions
  1. What is my property zoned?
  2. Why should I survey my property?
  3. Why do I need to pump my septic tank, and how do I keep it from failing?
  4. Do I need a permit to dig a pond?
  5. Where can I get rid of ... ?
County Quick Links

Benton County Departments

Services

Benton County's Guide to Green

Benton County's Green GuideEvents

Household Hazardous Waste Day
Benton County sponsors the hazardous waste collection on August 15, 2009.

Amnesty days
In late May or early June, Benton County sponsors a clean-up collection  day for  residents.

Green Terms

Resource Categories
Agricultural
Alternative Energy
Business
Conservation
Public Facilities/Community
Rebates and Energy Audits
Residential

Agriculture

Informational Resources

Dovetail - Build with renewable certified forest products.

MN Pollution Control Agency - agricultural resources.

Technical Resources

Agricultural Research Utilization Institute – Agricultural research for value added uses.
           
Wind - see Alternative Energy - Wind (below)

Anaerobic Digesters
Department of Energy - Reduce energy costs but also methane emissions, which contribute to global warming.
           
Financial Resources
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) - will provide funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Alternative Energy

US Dept of Agriculture Rural Development – Energy loans and grants assistance.

Dept of Energy - National Renewable Energy Laboratory - Whole-building renewable energy.

Dept of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,  Technical advances and research news and information.

MN Renewable Energy Society - (non-profit organization)  Renewable energy education, awareness, & projects in Minnesota.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Energy and climate information.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Wood burning in Minnesota - best practices.

Wind 
Do It Green - Wind power information & links.

Do It Green - Energy information.

Windustry & Windustry Great Plains Project - Wind power energy project initiation.

US Dept of Energy - Wind power energy.

Touchstone Energy - Energy saving tools and tips.

American Wind Energy Association – Small wind energy system.
                       
Solar
North Carolina State University  and Interstate Energy Council (IREC) - Financial Database of State Incentives and Renewables & Efficiency.

Business

Informational Resources

Clean Energy Resource Teams - Energy technology questions?  Ask here.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Green guide for business management.  Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network. Next step offers many resources, updates, and helpful information in regards to sustainability.

Energy Star - Guidelines, tools and resources for energy management and green building design. 

MN Pollution Control Agency – Next Step - Green guide for business management.  Minnesota Sustainable.

MN Pollution Control Agency – Do it Green - Is what is good for business almost always bad for nature?
           
Technical Resources

Energy Star - Funding Resources and energy saving resources

Central Minnesota Builders Association - Local Green Builders and Green Products.

Minnesota Power - Rebates and Energy Audits.

US Green Building Council - (LEED Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification – Green Building Rating System certification.

US Green Building Council - LEED Certification – Find out what LEED Certification is.

Winkelman Building Corporation - Winkelman Building Corporation is a LEED Certified Builder.  The Company is located in Benton County. 

St. Cloud Refrigeration - LEED accredited for heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. The company is located in Benton County.    

Rice Building Systems - Local LEED Certified Builder – Benton County Business.

Financial Resources

Benton County Economic Development - The Benton County Business Loan Program is a Gap financing loan for businesses that will include Energy Efficient in their new or existing building.  

Benton County SCORE Program – Grants available for recycling.

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) - will provide funds to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy efficiency improvements.

Department of Energy - Business Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits.

East Central Energy – Energy Rebates, Energy Efficiency Loans and Financing for LEED Certification. 

Initiative Foundation - The Green Business Loan Fund targets entrepreneurs whose products and services help to protect and preserve the environment—recycling, renewable energy, waste transformation and emerging technology that reduces negative impacts on the environment.

MN Center for Energy and Environment - Energy Audit and low interest financing to replace lighting for Xcel Energy Commercial Customers.

USDA Rural Development - Grants and loans for energy efficiency and alternative energy.

Conservation

Technical Resources

MN Pollution Control Agency - Surface and ground water quality resources and issues.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Green ecology and ecosystem information.

Department of Energy - Beating High Energy Prices and How to Beat High Gasoline Prices.

Recycling
Earth911 - Ways to reduce, reuse and recycle.
 
Green Products
MN Greenstar - Certification & green residential housing information.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Green building information.
           
Public Facilities/Community

Informational Resources

National Association of Counties (NaCo) - Resources on all things green for local community with information & projects.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Green resources for land use planning.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Green community planning.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Community green living.
           
Wind Resources          
Windustry & Windustry Great Plains Project - Wind power energy project – technical and financial resources.

Rebates and Energy Audits

Xcel Energy - Provides rebates and energy audits for its customers.

East Central Energy - Offer rebates for installing specific energy efficient equipment in your buildings. This program is applicable to all commercial, industrial and agricultural customers of ECE.

Minnesota Power - offers rebates, energy audits, helpful information in regards to energy conservation, and business loans.

Residential

Informational Resources - Homeowner Guides

Do It Green - Searchable database of general issues and information.

Do It Green - Green Home management.

Do It Green - Green gardening.

Do It Green - Simple living green.

Clean Energy Resource Teams - Home renewable energy projects.

MN Power - If you're planning to build or remodel a home and you have super energy efficiency in mind, you'll want to explore this web site.

MN Building Performance Association - Home Performance Testing consists of a comprehensive energy-related evaluation of your home.

Office of Energy Security - General information.

MN Energy Smart - Quick tips for energy efficiency.

Good To Be Green - Economic, social and environmental information.

MN Pollution Control Agency - Taking the next step toward a sustainable future.

MN Pollution Control Agency – Green Living information.

US Green Building Council – Green building research.

Great River Energy - Energy saving information.

East Central Energy - Energy conservation tips.

Green Home Guides - Green home - general information.

MN Greenstar (building certification program) - What is a green home?

Financial Resources

Clean Energy Resource Teams - Home renewable energy financial information.
                       
North Carolina State University and Interstate Energy Council (IREC) - Database of State Incentives and Renewables & Efficiency financial assistance information.

Department of Energy - Home energy efficiency improvement tax credits.

Xcel Energy - Provides rebates and energy audits for its customers.

East Central Energy - Offers rebates for installing specific energy efficient equipment in your home.

Minnesota Power - Offers rebates, energy audits, helpful information in regards to energy conservation four your home.

Tri-CAP - The Energy Conservation Programs provide services to reduce residential energy consumption for income eligible households.

 

 

Chelle Benson
Dept of Development Director

Benton County Government Center
531 Dewey Street
P.O. Box 129
Foley, MN 56329

Phone: 320-968-5065
Fax:     320-968-5351

Email:
chelle.benson@co.benton.mn.us

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