Sustainability News

What is sustainability?

Sustainability has many definitions, but the basic principles and concepts remain constant: balancing a strong economy, protection of the environment, and social equity in order to achieve an improved quality of life for ourselves and future generations.

Energy and Climate

• Conservation saves resources, money and our environment

Transportation

• Better roads, trails systems, transit and cleaner vehicles

Green Building and Planning

• Building a sustainable future

Zero Waste

• Going beyond recycling to the possibility of a waste-free community

Pollution Prevention

• Working to protect our land, air and water

What is the Sustainable Energy Plan?

The Sustainable Energy Plan is a collaborative, countywide guiding document that recommends 35 actions for local governments and others in Boulder County to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make our communities sustainable. The plan focuses on the dominant sources of emissions identified in a countywide greenhouse gas inventory: residential buildings, commercial buildings, transportation and industrial operations. Together these four sectors account for 91% of the county’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Boulder County Initiatives

The Boulder County Commissioners adopted two resolutions in 2005 committing the County to energy and resource conservation, waste reduction, pollution prevention and other sustainable practices.

Since that time, Boulder County has launched, completed or begun planning programs and policies that support the mission of the sustainability initiative. Examples of these efforts include:

• Creation of the ClimateSmart Loan Program
• Support of the ClimateSmart program
• Adoption of a Sustainable Energy Plan
• Creation of the BuildSmart green building program
• Completion of a Greenhouse Gas Inventory (PDF) to help guide plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Addition of a Sustainability Element (PDF) to the Boulder County Comprehensive Plan
• Energy-saving retrofits to County facilities
• Use of clean, renewable energy sources
• A Zero-Waste program that enables recycling and composting in County offices
• Construction of sustainable facilities

Many of these programs and updates are being supported via funds made possible when voters approved ballot issue 1A in 2005. The reform removed certain TABOR requirements, allowing Boulder County to retain and spend property tax revenues that otherwise would have been refunded. Boulder County has earmarked 6.67 percent of those additional funds for environmental sustainability efforts.

More about the County's Sustainability Initiative.