Sustainable Eden Prairie Award winners recognized

Four recipients were presented the 2024 Sustainable Eden Prairie Award during the Eden Prairie City Council meeting on Nov. 12.

According to the City Council agenda, “the Sustainable Eden Prairie Award recognizes significant and innovative investments that contribute to the overall vitality and sustainability of the community.”

Awards were presented by members of the Sustainability Commission in four categories: Landscape, Water, Energy, and Waste.

Eden Prairie resident Natalie Sells received the award in the Landscape category. She was recognized for her “commitment to incorporate native plantings in her yard to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife,” along with composting her organic waste and using a rain barrel to conserve water.

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United Properties earned the award in the Water category for their property, The Ellie, a multifamily housing development at 8075 Eden Prairie Road. This property has integrated many water-saving methods, including the use of WaterSense showerheads, the collection of rainwater that is used for resident community gardens, and a swimming pool that was designed to use as little water as possible.

The award for the Energy category went to Eden Prairie Schools for its work in reducing energy use in its buildings through energy-efficiency improvements and LED lighting. Approximately 85% of the energy used in Eden Prairie Schools’ buildings comes from rooftop or community solar gardens.

In the Waste category, the award went to Storm Trees, an Eden Prairie-based business that turns downed or diseased trees into lumber instead of mulch or biofuel. According to the award presenter, “Keeping the trees mostly intact means the carbon stored in them through natural processes is kept that way instead of being released into the atmosphere.”

After a nominations period that ended on Sept. 30, the Sustainability Commission met in October to discuss the nominations and select award recipients.

According to the city’s website, this award program “aligns with Sustainable Eden Prairie, an ongoing effort focusing on education and implementation of sustainable practices to protect the environment and natural resources our community enjoys.”