The City of Bloomington has recently been recognized for its sustainability endeavors, clinching an award that designates it as a Steps 4 and 5 city within the Minnesota GreenStep program. Joining the ranks of 154 cities and Tribal nations, Bloomington stands out in a program that has matured over 15 years, dedicated to guiding and acknowledging the green milestones of Minnesota's civic bodies.
According to an announcement shared by the City of Bloomington's website, Emma Struss, the environmental sustainability coordinator for Bloomington and the GreenStep program lead, explained the significance of this accolade, "This award shows community members and other cities across Minnesota that the City of Bloomington is taking great steps in the direction of energy and resource conservation and innovation." Bloomington has strived to apply best practice actions that are aimed at not only saving costs but also sharply reducing energy usage, conserving resources, addressing climate change, and stimulating civic innovation. Detailed information about Bloomington’s green initiatives can be found on the Minnesota GreenStep Cities website.
The GreenStep program, as described on its platform, is a voluntary system established for cities and Tribal nations that aspire to fulfill their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. At the heart of the program are 29 best practices meticulously adapted to suit the particular needs of Minnesota communities. The continuous improvement model that is GreenStep provides a path of progression, recognizing efforts of participants to become more sustainable and resilient.
"This award is a great achievement for the City of Bloomington," Struss told the city's news outlet. "And by being part of the program, Bloomington and our peers are helping to make Minnesota more resilient for the future while also helping our cities thrive economically." It is clear that Bloomington’s participation in the GreenStep program has not only fostered a culture of sustainability within the city but also set a benchmark for ecological responsibility that can potentially influence other Minnesota locales.
