Sustainability Projects

Shoreview worked with Xcel Energy's Partners in Energy program as a next step in Shoreview's sustainable future. The program joined community members, city staff, and the energy utility to develop an Energy Action Plan which was approved by city council in August 2024. This plan has goals of saving energy and money, increasing renewable energy, and reducing fossil fuel use. The focus areas for these goals are centered around informing and helping residents, businesses, and the city to help meet these goals. The program connects each of these sectors of the community with different energy programs and opportunities from Xcel Energy.

Energy action plan

Shoreview offers two level-2 charging stations for four vehicles to plug in located in the upper community center parking lot. These were installed in 2020. The first two hours are free.

Shoreview is a Step 5 city in the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program. This is the highest level possible. Minnesota GreenStep Cities is a voluntary program to help cities achieve goals in sustainability and quality-of-life. This program that started in 2021, has 146 participating cities and tribal nations which covers 52% of the state's population.

Shoreview replaces streetlight bulbs every other year in different areas of the city. Old out-of-date, high-wattage street light bulbs are replaced with LED bulbs. LED bulbs are more efficient, longer lasting, and low maintenance. This project started in 2013 and typically replaces 55-65 bulbs in a project.

The city maintenance center was completely remodeled in 2010 and achieved a LEED Gold certification from the US Green Building Council. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. 

Characteristics about the LEED Gold certification include:

• 92% of stormwater is treated on-site
• Parking constructed with permeable surface so water can flow through the pavement
• Roof uses a white membrane to reduce heat island effect
• Rainwater catch system is reuses water to facility toilets and vehicle wash bay - saving 140,000 gallons of water a year
• 61% of regularly occupied spaces are lit with natural light

Shoreview uses permeable pavements on road projects throughout the city to reduce and treat stormwater runoff. Permeable pavements collect and infiltrate a large amount of stormwater runoff. Water can flow through the pavement to help prevent flooding and erosion. The city completed one of the largest pervious concrete projects in North America at the time in 2009. Watch this video on pervious concrete in a Shoreview neighborhood. The city has also used pervious concrete block installations in 16 locations since 2014.

Rain gardens are a beautiful and affordable way to reduce stormwater runoff, and they provide food and habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies. There 20 separate rain gardens across 12 different city properties.

Rice Creek Fields park uses a water-reuse irrigation system to water the fields. Water is supplied by a stormwater pond just south of the park. The watering system is connected to the city's water system, so it can be used as an emergency supply. This project began supplying water to the fields in 2019. It was paid for with a grant in partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District.

The city partnered with the University of Minnesota and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District to study water quality at the Shoreview Commons stormwater pond. Iron filings were placed on top of the frozen pond in spring of 2019 so that it entered the pond with ice melt. The study is examining the effects of the iron filings on phosphorus levels.

Shoreview offers residents a rebate for upgrading an old irrigation controller to a new smart irrigation controller. These systems allow the property owner to override a scheduled timer based on weather conditions or changes in schedule to prevent unnecessary water use. The program began in 2020 and has continued through new grant funding from the Metropolitan Council’s Water Efficiency Grant Program.

Shoreview's largest plow trucks are equipped with state-of-the-art salt-spreading controls. This special equipment spreads sale in the most efficient way possible, and reduces the amount of salt used.

City operators are trained in salting best-practices and conservation methods. Road and weather conditions are continuously monitored. Each operator is able to make adjustments based on safe salting guidelines. Shoreview uses specialized software in the plows to see salt use, speed, and weather conditions. With this information we can analyze long-term trends and salt use.

A solar array was installed in 2019 on the roof of the maintenance center in an agreement with a local solar developer. The array provides approximately half of the energy needs of the maintenance building.

Shoreview launched WaterSmart in 2016. This online program lets residents see and track their water use. Residents can see their monthly water use and find information on water conservation. The program raises awareness of conservation efforts and reduces water use by participants.