Our Mission

MRES is a catalyst, equitably advancing a sustainable low-carbon society
and a renewable energy economy through education, leadership and example.

May Speaker Series

"Do not Waste your Waste"

AURI provides producers, entrepreneurs, and agribusinesses with technical and business development support to expand market opportunities for agricultural-based products. The nonprofit organization works on over 200 projects annually and has helped catalyze more than $187 million in new annual sales for businesses. AURI operates across several areas, and the event will specifically highlight its renewable energy programs utilizing biomass feedstocks. Their primary focus will be an overview of anaerobic digestion (AD) and its application in agricultural waste management. Although AD is not a new technology, it is experiencing renewed interest due to its effectiveness in addressing environmental challenges while simultaneously contributing value to rural economies through energy production and efficient crop nutrient management.

About the Speaker

Luca Zullo, Ph.D.
Sr. Director of Science and Technology
AURI

Luca started his career at Shell Research in the Netherlands, where he was involved in designing novel oil and petrochemical processes focusing on process modeling, control, and integration. He continued this work in Minneapolis for Cray Research and Silicon Graphics, leading the development of some of the world’s most extensive process plant simulations. In addition, he led the development of Virtual Plant, a pioneering prototype of a visual simulator for operator training.

Later, at Cargill, he worked in corporate R&D on novel agricultural commodities transformation processes, emphasizing biofuels development and renewable energy in plant operations. He led a group that developed multiple domestic and international projects in aerobic digestion, biomass utilization, and carbon intensity reduction. Among them, what at the time was the largest cluster of manure to biogas projects in the US.

After Cargill, he has worked with several early-stage companies leading or supporting the transition to commercialization from early-stage R&D. Among those; he led the development of a venture for a bio-ethanol derived chemicals resulting in the construction of a world-class production site which now provides biobased solvents to the paint and coating industry.

Luca holds a Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Padova, Italy, and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine of London, United Kingdom. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, flying, fishing, and reading history books on rural businesses, and provide vital education and technical assistance.

May Live online presentation

Thursday, May 15th @ 6:00pm

New!
As of March 2025, you will need to register for the monthly Speaker Series.
Simply provide your name and email and you will be emailed a link to join the Zoom presentation.

Questions? Contact eleanor@mnrenewables.org

Green Rock Apartments Transform Multifamily Housing from Old to Sustainable: A Guide for Property Owners

Dale Howey, in six years, has transformed his Green Rock Apartments into a model of carbon-neutral housing. Howey, a Minneapolis owner/renovator, has completed eight multi-unit building retrofits. The physical improvements, coupled with enhanced livability amenities, have dramatically reduced each building’s utility usage/cost of energy, increased owner profits, and improved livability for residents. Most importantly, the retrofits have significantly reduced the use of fossil fuels, and thus contribute toward lowering the world’s extreme carbon emissions.

Howey’s intention is to open-source his unique retrofit approach so that others may gain ideas, inspiration, and guidance. To that end, the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, in collaboration with Green Rock Apartments, has produced a detailed guide documenting Howey’s projects, noting the carbon-reducing products used, retrofit project financing, key contacts and sources for further research. The following guide highlights four Green Rock Apartment buildings in Minneapolis, MN that have been retrofitted to near zero carbon by Howey. These retrofits have greatly lowered utility usage, increased owner profits and have improved livability for Residents. Most importantly, these retrofits significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels to further lower the world’s extreme carbon emissions.

Read the full guide