State Agency Sustainability Action Plans
State agencies are uniquely positioned to be leaders in saving energy, reducing waste, conserving water, and improving air quality in Minnesota.
Sustainability plan template
Sustainability plan targets
Sustainability plan targets (p-p2s9-18)
The sustainability plan targets are based on goals outlined below. These targets reflect changes to the exective orders along with those adopted by the Inter-Agency Pollution Prevention Advisory Team (IPPAT).
Environmental products
Increase the purchase and use of environmentally preferable products and services.
Energy efficient office machines
- All multifunctional devices (MFDs) on the state standards program must be Energy Star labeled.
- By June 2014, agencies must complete a print assessment at every office.
- By June 2016, agencies must complete the printer and MFD asset management actions indicated in their printer and MFD assessment.
Preferred waste stream products.
- By June 30, 2015, purchases of remanufactured printer toner cartridges, from the state office supply vendor, must increase at least 30 percent from the base of fiscal year 2009 usage.
Copier Paper.
- At least 93 percent of all copier paper purchased from the copier paper contract vendor must be a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer recycled content paper and third party certified under one of two internationally recognized forest management certification systems: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).
Solid waste
Waste reduction, recycling, and diversion
- By June 30, 2014, each state agency must achieve 60 percent reduction in the amount of waste disposed of each fiscal year, compared to fiscal year 2011, through reducing waste, recycling, and diverting organics.
Reduce bottled water purchases
- Reduce purchase of bottled water by 50 percent from baseline of FY2010, except where the purchase is necessary for public health and safety, or emergencies.
Eliminate purchase of Triclosan-containing products
- Eliminate the purchase of hand soaps, dish and laundry products containing triclosan by June 30, 2013
The Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency is authorized by Executive Order 11-13 to waive targets in the model sustainability plan for good cause shown. State agencies wishing to waive the target related to eliminating purchase of triclosan containing products in medical or food service settings are required to fill out a waiver.
Waiver request (PDF Version) (p-p2s9-19)
Solid waste management compliance by state agencies
Each state agency must comply with Minnesota Statutes § 115A.471, by properly managing solid waste according to the solid waste management plan of each county in which it operates.
Fuel
Reduce dependence on petroleum based fuels used in transportation
Reduce use of gasoline
- By 2015, using 2005 as a baseline, the State of Minnesota must reduce the use of gasoline in on-road vehicles owned by state departments by 50 percent.
Reduce petroleum-based diesel fuel
- By 2015, using 2005 as a baseline, the State of Minnesota must reduce the use of petroleum based diesel fuel in on-road vehicles owned by state departments by 25 percent.
Fleet composition
Ensure that when reasonably possible all on-road vehicles purchased by a state agency:
- use cleaner fuels as that term is defined in Minnesota Statutes § 16C.135, subdivision 1, or
- with the exception of buses, snowplows, and construction vehicles, have fuel efficiency ratings that exceed 30 miles per gallon for city usage or 35 miles per gallon for highway usage.
Fueling practice
- All state employees utilizing vehicles capable of operating on cleaner fuels must, whenever practical, use cleaner fuels when operating those vehicles. For the purposes of this executive order, the term "whenever practical" refers to the availability of the cleaner fuel.
Renewable/next gen fuel products
- Increase the use of renewable transportation fuels derived from agricultural products, including ethanol, biodiesel fuel, and hydrogen fuels, and fuels derived from waste products.
Technology to reduce reliance on state fleet
- Increase the use of technology to enhance access to and delivery of government information and services to the public, and reduce reliance on the state’s fleet for the delivery of the information and services.
Energy use - leased buildings
Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate leadership by modeling and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in state owned or leased buildings
Each state department in a leased facility must implement at least two initiatives to reduce energy and waste consumption through efficiency and conservation and the promotion of changes in employee practices.
Demonstrate leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy
By December 31, 2012, at least 50 percent of state building operators and managers will have attended Building Operator Certification (BOC) training offered through Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance or other appropriate training approved by the Real Property Executive Committee to operate existing energy-consuming equipment in state-owned buildings in the most efficient manner possible.
Energy use - state owned buildings
Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate leadership by modeling and implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in state owned or leased buildings
Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Achieve building energy performance standards as provided in Minnesota Statutes, § 216B.241, subdivision 9, (Sustainable Building 2030) in all designs for new or substantially renovated state buildings by reducing energy use from an average 2003 building by 70 percent by 2015.
Demonstrate leadership in energy efficiency and renewable energy
By December 31, 2012, at least 50 percent of state building operators and managers will have attended Building Operator Certification (BOC) training offered through Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance or other appropriate training approved by the Real Property Executive Committee to operate existing energy-consuming equipment in state-owned buildings in the most efficient manner possible.
Air pollution
Reduce air pollution
On days with high- risk air pollution, all state agencies must be notified of actions they can take to reduce their impact on air pollution. State agencies must notify their staff about the alert 95 percent of the time.
Traveling
State agencies shall encourage employees to consider alternatives to single- occupancy vehicle commuting on or about May 1 and October 1 of each year.
Water consumption
Reduce water consumption and demonstrate leadership by modeling and implementing water efficiency measures in state-owned or leased buildings.
By June 2014, agencies will have inventoried their water facility distribution systems to determine whether system components meet current industry water efficiency best management practices (BMPs). Agencies will implement water efficiencies (BMPs) with the goal of replacing 10 percent of inefficient technologies with efficient fixtures, equipment, systems, and BMPs by December 2015.
Governor's Executive Orders
The Governor’s Executive orders affects all state agencies. They are designed to drive cost savings as well as reduce energy use and the environmental impacts of state government. The University of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Colleges and University system, and Metropolitan Council are highly encouraged to participate in achieving the targets of the Executive Orders.
Executive Order 11-12 requires agencies with operational control over state buildings to achieve an aggregate 20 percent reduction in energy use from the baseline data entered into the B3 Energy Benchmarking tool or the year immediately before the agency initiated their energy improvements, whichever is later.
Executive Order 11-13 sets targets for waste management and toxics reduction, air pollution, renewable energy production, energy efficiency in leased buildings, environmentally preferable procurement, fleet management, and water conservation. It also requires each agency to prepare a Sustainability Plan that describes the strategies agencies will use to accomplish the outcomes established in both Executive Order 11-12 and 11-13. The plans must be created by June 30 of each year.
Accomplishments
A summary of state agency strategies in the targeted categories is collected through IPPAT and reported annually.
State agencies are not required to report progress on the sustainability plans separately, except where required by law. Instead, performance measures are chosen by IPPAT to incorporate progress of state agencies as an enterprise. The chart below indicates progress among state agencies in reaching one of the targets for environmentally preferable procurement.
The following are examples of successful sustainability projects which have been carried out at MPCA. More case studies will be available in the future.
Other resources
Sustainability plan template (p-p2s9-14) Use this form to prepare an annual Sustainability Plan that describes the strategies your agency will use to accomplish the outcomes established in Executive Orders 11-12 and 11-13. The plans must be created by June 30 of each year.
