Below is a list of seventeen cities in Colorado that have implemented policies intended to enhance their sustainability and reduce their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. This page will be updated to keep it current with new developments. If you know of a community that should be included, please inform us via email at info [at] colivableclimate [dot] org
The communities are listed in alphabetical order:
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In 2019, Frisco joined other Colorado municipalities in committing to 100% renewable energy by 2025. In addition to carbon reductions, Frisco’s 2019-2020 Strategic Plan outlines goals to reduce building energy use 21% by 2030, transportation emissions by 25% by 2030, and waste emissions by 50% by 2030. Frisco recently received the “Silver” designation from the national SolSmart energy program for promoting solar energy growth in the community and removing barriers to solar development. Frisco was also recently awarded a grant from Charge Ahead Colorado to install two new dual-port electric vehicle charging stations, giving the small mountain town a total of three free public charging stations. Frisco has also recently adopted Zero Waste Event Requirements for city events, and a water efficiency and conservation plan, which offers financial rebates for residents to replace old fixtures with WaterSense approved fixtures. Energy Smart Colorado
Lafayette, a town 11 miles East of Boulder, has received accolades for its commitment to sustainability in a number of arenas. In 2019, Lafayette received a “Gold” designation from the solar company SolSmart for improving the solar permitting process and proposing a solar ordinance to provide transparent guidance on solar development throughout the city. The city recently received a $43,000 grant from Boulder County to fund a number of projects, including open space restoration events, electric vehicle (EV) and eBike initiatives, and recycling campaigns. Lafayette’s Green Business Program offers financial incentives for companies to align their practices with the city’s climate goals, such as achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2030. Additionally, the city recently partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy on a study that used energy data to inform EV infrastructure planning in the region.
On the outskirts of Denver to the West, the city of Lakewood has made great strides in the environmental arena. Lakewood’s Sustainable Neighborhoods Program is a certification program that helps neighborhoods organize workshops, events and initiatives to enhance livability and reduce residents’ ecological footprint. Many of Lakewood’s city-owned facilities are now fully powered renewable energy including Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park, the Head Start and Early Childhood Education buildings and numerous park buildings. Additionally, Lakewood has a partnership with Xcel Energy, called the Energy Future Collaborative, that gives it a 1,015 kW subscription share from Xcel’s Titan solar facility. Lakewood also purchased 274 kW of solar energy from a community solar garden in 2014. In addition to expanding solar, by 2025, Lakewood is aiming to reduce its citywide building energy use intensity by 20 percent, its citywide water use by 20 percent, and its municipal building and facility energy use intensity by 30 percent.
The city of Littleton is renowned for its commitment to sustainability and climate action. Every year, the city sponsors an annual Household Hazardous Waste Roundup, collecting thousands of pounds of solid waste and liquid waste from residents to properly dispose of. Littleton also sponsors an annual electronics recycling event for residents to dispose of computers, televisions, monitors, and radios. The city’s Parks and Recreation department also sponsors a Christmas tree recycling program where thousands of trees are ground into mulch that is then made available to the public for free. Similarly, Littleton has an annual leaf recycling program. Additionally, the city’s Spring Tree Program distributes thousands of shade trees to residents at reduced rates each spring, and residents can plant them anywhere within the city limits. The City of Littleton also owns and operates two year-round community gardens with individual plots assigned to gardeners on an annual basis. The city also offers community-building grants to neighborhoods that want to hold their own clean-up events.
Despite its reputation as a hub for Xcel’s dirty energy – housing coal-fired power plants Comanche 1, 2, and 3 – the city of Pueblo itself has taken admirable strides to be a leader in the field of sustainability. The city uses 98% Avaya hardware products, which are energy-efficient and have an embedded energy management solution that can reduce power consumption by an additional 25% during off-peak hours. In 2021, Pueblo released a nearly 100-page Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Plan, which provided strategic guidelines for development, siting, and implementation of EV infrastructure to foster EV adoption in the area. Pueblo’s ambitious approach to promoting EVs includes a vehicle fleet fuel-efficiency and zero emissions program for all Pueblo County-owned and operated vehicles. Pueblo also has robust sustainability benchmarks for buildings, for instance, all Pueblo County-owned buildings must meet LEED and Energy Star standards. Importantly, Pueblo’s sustainability initiatives seek to address environmental justice concerns – for instance, the city has made efforts to reduce radon exposure in residential buildings, expand water quality monitoring and water treatment, and improve air particulate matter monitoring and air quality in the city.
Nestled in the dramatic snowy peaks of the San Juan Mountains, Telluride is famous for not only its rugged beauty, but also for its dedication to climate action to protect those majestic landscapes. The city has a robust water efficiency plan detailing its strategic approach to decrease use of potable water for outdoor irrigation; reduce wastewater discharges by reducing indoor residential water use; reduce peak day summer demand; and provide “insurance” that there will be more water and wastewater capacity available for the tourist economy, as drought protection and in-stream flows. The town has a bus fleet powered by biodiesel, a gondola powered by wind energy, and a hydroelectric power plant that provides more than 25 percent of the town’s electricity. In 2008, Telluride purchased an undeveloped, 570-acre parcel of meadows and woodland surrounding the town in order to provide an open-space barrier to preserve the natural environment that encompasses the town. One prominent environmental group in Telluride, EcoAction Partners, provides a Green Fund to support renewable energy and energy efficiency projects; supports local growers and sustainable, local food production; and offers a Green Business certification to encourage local businesses to adopt sustainable practices.