Sustainability

State and local programs for single family, duplex, triplex and fourplex homeowners and renters*

• Home Energy Squad
  Learn how you can save money on energy while make your home more comfortable, safe, and healthy.
• Energy Advisor Service
  Already know what updates your home needs? Get connected with the Energy Advisor Service who can guide you to next steps such as connecting you with contractors.
• Weatherization Assistance Program
  Free energy efficiency installations are provided to income qualified households through the state.
• Time of Sale Energy Disclosure
  Did you know that every home sold in Bloomington is given a home energy score? 
  • Find your home energy score
  • Watch a video to earn more about Time of Sale Energy Disclosure
  • View the Time of Sale Energy Disclosure Ordinance

*Includes 1-4 unit townhomes and condominiums

Federal tax incentives for home upgrades and electric vehicles

• Investing in America tax incentives
  Learn more about how you or your family can save on utility bills, get support to purchase electric vehicles and energy-saving appliances, and access the economic opportunities of the clean energy future.

Programs for owners and managers of 5+ unit rental homes or condominiums

• Multifamily Building Efficiency Program
  Multifamily properties can receive a free energy efficiency audit and no cost direct install energy saving equipment through the Multifamily Building Efficiency Program.

Programs for commercial and industrial buildings

• CenterPoint Energy Efficiency Programs and Rebates
  Learn about programs and rebates offered to make your building more efficient.
• Xcel Energy Business Savings
  Learn about cost savings programs, energy efficiency rebates and more.
• Center for Energy and Environment Commercial Programs
  Receive a free lighting or HVAC assessment for small to midsize businesses.

Programs for non-profit organizations

EnerChange
Free up resources and expand your services through energy efficiency. Program includes on site walkthrough, report, rebate assistance, connection to financing, implementation support, and reporting and tracking.

Non-Profit Affordable Housing
The Non-profit Affordable Housing program offers substantial incentives for energy efficiency measures installed by partnering with affordable housing organizations in their one-to-four-unit new construction and retrofit income-qualified housing. Rebates cover the approximate incremental cost for upgraded insulation and air sealing, plus higher-efficiency natural gas heating, water heating and other equipment in projects sold to income-qualified homebuyers or operated by the organization as rental units. Questions? Contact: Ryan.Setterholm@CenterPointEnergy.com.

Renewable*Connect® 
Renewable energy subscriptions offered through Xcel Energy that meet the needs of your home, apartment, or business.

Solar*Rewards®
Go solar with a bonus when you install solar panels on your property through this Xcel Energy program.

Solar*Rewards® Community 
Show your support for a solar garden without the hassle of installing solar panels on your property through this Xcel Energy program.

City of Bloomington Solar Checklist
View City of Bloomington's checklist for installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system on your property. 

Federal Rooftop Solar Tax Credits
Learn about federal tax credits for installing rooftop solar on your home.

Adopt a Storm Drain
Adopt-a-Drain asks residents to adopt a drain in their neighborhood and keep it clear of leaves, trash, and other debris to reduce water pollution. 

Control buckthorn and/or garlic mustard 
Invasive species like buckthorn and garlic mustard take over natural communities unless we intervene. They outcompete our diverse native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, simplifying natural communities to few weedy species and making them more vulnerable to collapse. 

Learn about endangered, threatened, and special concern Species
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources identifies endangered, threatened, and special concern species that are at greatest risk of disappearing from the state. By alerting resource managers and the public to species in jeopardy, actions can be taken to help preserve the diversity of Minnesota's flora and fauna.

Plant a tree in your yard 
Trees exhale oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas that leads to climate change. Climate change stresses out trees, leading to slow growth, disease, or even death. If there were no trees we would suffocate. We can help the forest adapt to climate change by planting trees that survive in our new climate. 

Plant a pollinator garden in Your Yard 
Animal pollinators are critical to our food supply. About 75% of food crops and 90% of wild flowering plants depend on animal pollinators. When it comes to their diet, pollinators like variety just as we do. However, due to intensive monoculture-based suburban lawns, local wildlife don’t always have much to choose from. Help attract nearby pollinators by planting a variety of native plant species in your garden, only using pesticides when necessary, and eliminating common invasive species like the noxious buckthorn weed when possible.

Commuter Services
Access resources for alternatives to driving alone on I-494.

Metro Transit
View transit schedules and maps.

City of Bloomington Biking and Hiking Guide
This Active Living Biking and Hiking Guide shows a portion of the many hiking trails, sidewalks and bikeways that thread their way through our beautiful city.

Discover Bloomington by Bike Series
View the links below to learn about what many of the biking areas look like and see how major destinations are connected.
South Loop District
Mid City Bikeway
West side loop
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge trails
Fat tire biking

Spring Bicycle Tune-Up Tips
Learn how to tune-up your bicycle after it's been in storage over the winter.

Active Transportation Action Plan

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Plan

Neighborhood Traffic Management Program

Water conservation efforts are important in Bloomington. In 2020 alone, residents and businesses in Bloomington used 3.4 billion gallons of water! 

While Bloomington is fortunate to get its water from several sources, including local aquifers and the Mississippi River, we want to make sure that these resources remain healthy and available well into the future.

Irrigation systems, toilets, clothes washers, and dishwashers are the biggest water users in most homes – but they don’t necessarily use water wisely. Newer models do the job just as well, but they can use up to 40% less water to do it!  For example, replacing an old toilet with an EPA WaterSense model can save 13,000 gallons of water annually for the average family.  That’s a lot of water—and extra cost on your water bill.

To help Bloomington residents conserve water and save money by installing water-saving devices, Bloomington water customers can now apply for rebates for the purchase of WaterSense labeled and Energy Star qualified appliances and water saving rain barrels. Information on the rebate program is below.

Rebate Program Details

• The rebate program is only available to customers of the City of Bloomington Water Utility.
• Rebates are for residential properties only. This includes single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, or duplexes. 
• New construction and new development are ineligible for rebates in this program.
• Rebate devices must be installed within the City of Bloomington, Minnesota. 
• New WaterSense or EnergyStar devices must be replacing an existing, less efficient device.
• Rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until all rebate funds as allocated are exhausted or until June 30, 2024, whichever comes first.  There are no guarantees that rebate funds will be available at the time of purchase.
• Rebates are available for device cost only; labor charges are not applicable.
• Each Bloomington water account is limited to two rebate claims.
• Upon approval, rebates will be issued as credits on the water utility bill. No rebate checks will be issued.  If rebate is approved, rebate will appear on the utility bill in 2-3 billing cycles.
• Only qualifying purchases made on or after October 1, 2022, are eligible for the rebate. 
• The City of Bloomington reserves the right to conduct inspections to verify the installation of products at the specified address. Utility Bill credits will be revoked if products have not been installed at the location specified on the rebate application.  
• You must provide receipts and information about the make and model of the device at the time of application.
• The City reserves the right to amend or terminate the Rebate program at any time.

How to apply

Obtain a City of Bloomington Water Efficiency Rebate Program Application online or in person at Bloomington Public Works, 1700 West 98th Street.

Complete the application and include a copy of the original purchase receipt. The receipt must clearly identify the date of purchase, the manufacturer, and the model installed.

Applications and receipts can be emailed to:ebiales@bloomingtonmn.gov or sent to

Bloomington Water Rebate Program
1700 W 98th Street
Bloomington, MN  55431

Funding for the rebate program is provided by the Metropolitan Council and Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment’s Water Efficiency Grant, the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, the Bloomington Sustainability Commission, and the Bloomington Water Utility.