Our Mission

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

August Speaker Series

No Speaker Series in August!

The MRES Team is busy prepping for the 2025 Minnesota State Fair Eco Experience, so no event will be held in August.

CALL FOR ECO EXPERIENCE VOLUNTEERS

August 21 - September 1 at the Minnesota State Fair!

We’re seeking volunteers to help State Fair visitors navigate MRES indoor and outdoor exhibits at the Eco Experience. If you’re interested in learning more about solar and sustainable technologies—and you love talking with people—we would love to have you join us. Our goal is to reverse/slow climate change. Expert or novice, we invite you to educate people about choices that can help. And have fun!

Free! For each day you volunteer, we’ll thank you with a free State Fair ticket. Tickets will be distributed at a mandatory Volunteer Training on Wednesday, August 13, 5:15-8 pm at Mayflower Church, 106 E. Diamond Lake Road, Mpls, 5:30-8 p.m. Be there to learn talking tips from experts and your role as a volunteer for MRES.

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