MINNEAPOLIS Feb. 15, 2012 Minneapolis is one of Americas most eco-focused cities, and now visitors to the Minneapolis Convention Center can learn first-hand about some major projects that make the city a sustainability standout. An interactive eco-focused display unveiled today at the convention center illustrates multiple ongoing initiatives that are improving the environment, the economy and the overall quality of life in Minneapolis.

The two-sided display features a large-scale city street design of Minneapolis layered with translucent acrylic domes to call out various buildings or initiatives that represent Minneapolis eco-focus. Visitors can use interactive touch screens to read informational graphics about the citys sustainability successes, ranging from energy innovation to alternative transportation to riverfront restoration.

Minneapolis is committed to sustainability in every sense of the word, said Mayor R.T. Rybak. A healthy environment and sustainable future are top priorities. The ecologically focused display at the Minneapolis Convention Center will allow visitors to see the progress were making and understand why Minneapolis is known for its great quality of life.

The Minneapolis Convention Center itself is one of the largest projects on the citys eco-friendly agenda. Work is under way to significantly reduce the convention centers water and energy use, and increase the amount of waste it recycles.

Besides informing leisure visitors, the eco-focused display is aimed at conveying the citys environmental commitment to convention-goers and meeting planners.

More and more, meeting planners and their clients are seeking venues that incorporate sustainable practices into operations, said Jeff Johnson, executive director of the Minneapolis Convention Center. The planned improvements in use of energy, water and reduction of waste at the Minneapolis Convention Center will position the city to attract even more national and international convention business, bringing tremendous economic impact to Minneapolis and the region, while also lowering our impact in the local environment.

By 2015, the convention center will recycle 75 percent of the 1.8 million pounds of waste annually created there. New bathroom fixtures and other retrofits will help cut water consumption by half. By upgrading thousands of light fixtures to more efficient models and shutting off unnecessary lights at night and when not in use, the convention center will reduce energy use by 10 percent. Thats on top of the 24 percent reduction achieved since 2008, saving taxpayers $1 million each year.

The rewards for achieving our goals are many, but all lead to responsibly using our resources so that we can continue to sustain our operation and provide great returns on the investments that our community has made in the facility, Johnson said.

The eco-focused display showcases 15 projects and partnerships that make Minneapolis one of Americas most sustainable cities. Those include:

The downtown energy district, which provides energy-efficient and environmentally sound heating and/or cooling services to more than 100 buildings. Known as the NRG Energy Center Minneapolis and operated by NRG Thermal LLC, the district produces and distributes steam and hot water for heating, and chilled water for air conditioning. Its among Americas 10 largest such districts.

Nice Ride Minnesota, which offers 1,200 bikes for rent at 116 solar-powered kiosks in public places, making it the second-largest bike-share system in the country.

Homegrown Minneapolis, a citywide initiative to help our community grow, process, distribute, eat and compost more healthy, sustainable, locally grown foods. One program featured on the display is Emerge Youth Community Garden, a city-funded summer program that uses a community garden to teach kids about local food production and sustainability.

The Downtown Improvement District (DID), which provides services such as pedestrian ambassadors and graffiti removal to make a 120-block area of downtown cleaner, safer and greener. Since 2009, the DIDs mission has been to support, preserve, create and enhance a thriving downtown community that attracts and retains businesses and people.

ABOUT MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Meet Minneapolis is a private, not-for-profit, member-based association. It actively promotes and sells the Minneapolis area as a destination for conventions and meetings, works to maximize the visitor experience and markets the city as a desirable tourist destination to maximize the economic benefit of the greater Minneapolis area.

Online: www.minneapolis.org

On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meetminneapolis?ref=ts

On Twitter: http://twitter.com/meetminneapolis

Media Contact:

Matt Laible Kristen Montag

City of Minneapolis Meet Minneapolis

612-673-2786 612-767-8038

matthew.laible@minneapolismn.gov kristenm@minneapolis.org

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