Happy Earth Week! April 22 is the 50th Earth Day, a global day to support environmental protection. To honor this milestone, we’re celebrating all week! In the next few days, we’ll be sharing over social media information about MDVA’s commitment to sustainability, MDVA’s actions aimed to reduce our environmental impact, and tips on how we all can be better environmental stewards.

MDVA’s Strategic Plan includes a goal of being an exemplary steward of natural resources, demonstrating our commitment to providing Veterans the services they’ve earned while not compromising our environmental footprint. In addition to the environmental benefits, sustainability includes economic and social components. Many sustainability initiatives have financial savings, either long-term or short term. For example, replacing incandescent bulbs with light-emitting diode LED bulbs in one building on the Minnesota Veterans Home - Minneapolis campus would save nearly $28,000 per year (that’s a payback time of less than six years!) and carbon dioxide emitted by equivalent of 23 homes per year!

MDVA is focusing sustainability efforts on projects in six priority areas to meet the following goals (check out our progress here):

• Fleet fossil fuel consumption: A 30% reduction by 2027 relative to a 2018 baseline.
• Water use: A 15% reduction by 2025 relative to a 2017 baseline.
• Greenhouse gas emissions: A 30% reduction by 2025 relative to a 2005 baseline.
• Energy consumption: A 30% reduction per square foot by 2027 relative to a 2017 baseline.
• Solid waste: Divert 75% of waste to recycling and composting by 2030.
• Procurement: At least 25% of purchases on priority contracts are sustainable by 2025.

So, what are we doing to meet these goals?

Fleet fossil fuel consumption
In 2019, MDVA’s fleet fossil fuel consumption increased 8% from baseline. MDVA’s plan to reduce fossil fuel consumption includes replacing vehicles at their end of life with fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles and replacing gasoline medium-sized vehicles with electric utility vehicles. In fact, in 2018 and 2019 alone, MDVA has installed electric vehicle charging ports at Veterans Homes and is replacing 13 vehicles with plug-in or traditional hybrids or full electric vehicles, and replacing four vehicles with electric utility vehicles. In addition, MDVA is replacing 16 pieces of gas-powered landscaping equipment with electric versions, paid for by a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Water use
In 2019, MDVA’s water use decreased 3% from baseline. This can be credited to eliminating irrigation at a few Veterans Homes, installing moisture sensors to reduce the irrigation frequency at the Homes and State Veterans Cemeteries, and installing low-flow fixtures in all new construction and renovations. To continue to decrease water use, MDVA will perform water assessments and assess the Minnesota Veterans Home - Hastings Campus for stormwater reuse or greywater use opportunities.

Energy consumption
MDVA’s energy use per square foot has decreased every year since baseline and was 16% less than baseline in 2018 (2019 data not yet available). MDVA’s decrease in energy use per square foot due to installing LEDs, ensuring new construction (e.g., new buildings at the Minneapolis Homes and Preston and Duluth Cemeteries) meets Sustainable Building 2030 standards. MDVA will continue to evaluate how our buildings can be more energy efficient, including conducting energy audits at the Veterans Homes to identify and prioritize the implementation of effective energy conservations measures.

Greenhouse gas emissions
MDVA’s building footprint has expanded which has contributed to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions relative to baseline. MDVA will continue to reduce energy and fleet fossil fuel consumption and evaluate all Veteran Homes and Cemetery campuses for renewable energy options, either onsite or provided through the utility company. The Duluth Cemetery’s energy is sourced solely from wind energy.

Solid waste diversion
In 2019, MDVA’s solid waste diversion rate was 22%, up from 9% the prior year. All MDVA Veterans Homes and Cemeteries have recycling programs and the Minneapolis Home recently starting diverting organics with the Hastings Home to start soon. To better understand contamination rates and how to improve diversion, MDVA will conduct waste sorts and develop diversion strategies based on the results. The Fergus Falls Home is donating reusable durable medical equipment to a local organization and we’ll continue to look for local partners for the other Homes.

Sustainable procurement
All MDVA Homes and Cemeteries are purchasing off the Office of State Procurement’s 100% Sustainable List. In 2019, MDVA Homes and Cemeteries started purchasing 100% recycled content printing paper, which is above and beyond the 30% requirement.