CityStories / City Profiles / Large Cities / Denver, Colorado
Coloradans understand the value of water in their semi-arid state and there is nothing casual about their referring to it as "liquid gold." Seasonal snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains provides Denver with a fluctuating supply dependant on the weather. Seeking to preserve this resource, the city water utility, Denver Water, offers numerous incentives including rebates, tax credits and conservation pricing for keeping consumption down.
They have already made so much progress toward their 1997 goal of reducing municipal water consumption by 22 percent by 2050 that the goal was moved up to 2016. The utility is now examining challenges such as global warming and population increases for a 2010 Integrated Resource Plan that will shape future conservation efforts.
The city's reliance on its natural landscape is exemplified in many other ways as well, including its more than 200 city parks, 14,000 acres of mountain parkland and 850 miles of off-road bike trails. To prevent stormwater runoff, reduce greenhouse gases, and cool streets and sidewalks, the city's Mile-High Million program aims to plant one million trees in the metropolitan Denver area by 2025. The energy utility, Xcel, is actively taking advantage of the city's natural access to wind, solar and geothermal energy, with a plan for 20 percent of the city's electricity to come from wind power by 2020.
To cut down on waste—58 percent of Denver's trash is organic matter—Denver Recycles has implemented a pilot program for composting. Tested on 3,300 homes from October 2008 to June 2009, the program collects organic matter, composts it and sells it for use on lawns and gardens. Thus far, program has proved so successful that the city hopes to extend the service to all households.
The Democratic National Convention in August 2008 initiated many green initiatives that stuck. The Freewheelin bike-sharing program, created by Humana Health Care and the not-for-profit organization Bikes Belong, brought nearly 1,000 donated bikes to Denver for the convention. Humana permanently donated 30 bikes for residents' use, free of charge with a swipe of a credit card or a Freewheelin key fob at a solar-powered kiosk, and the mayor has committed to expanding the urban bike transit system. The convention also improved recycling, energy-efficiency and water conservation at municipal facilities and hotels, bringing environmental and cost benefits long after the convention ended.
This website allows New York City residents and small businesses to sign up for green power in 3 easy steps.
Piloted by the City and County of Denver, Driving Change is the first internet-based vehicular greenhouse gas management system which helped Denver improve its fuel efficiency 15%.
Download the City of Portland and Multnomah County Climate Action Plan 2009 (pdf), which details the cities conservation and climate change preparation initiatives.
Visit Clean Energy Works: Portland for information on financing for residential energy effiency upgrades.
See the Portland Ecoroof program for information on the city's living roof projects.
Click here for information on Portland's sustainable stormwater management efforts.
See the Portland Brownfield Program to learn about how the city is reclaiming contaminated sites for development.
Download the City of El Paso's Livable City Sustainability Plan (pdf) for the city's overall strategy to improve quality of life in El Paso.
The El Paso Solar Energy Association (EPSEA) supports the development of solar installations in West Texas, Southern New Mexico and Northern Mexico.
Visit the El Paso Department of Sustainability for information on local sustainabiltiy initiatives.
Download the Seattle Climate Protection Initiative Progress Report 2009 (pdf) for a report on recent initiatives.
Download the 2008 Seattle Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory (pdf) for details on the city's most recent energy audit.
See the Seattle Office of Housing HomeWise program for weatherization services available to homeowners.
See the Powerful Neighborhoods program to learn about free retrofits available to South Seattle residents.
Download the City of Fort Collins Utilities 2009 Energy Policy (pdf), which details the utilities goals and vision for 2050.
Download the City of For Collins Utilities Electric Energy Supply Policy 2008 Annual Update (pdf), which details the city's activities and progress since the Energy Policy.
Download the 2008 Fort Collins Climate Action Plan (pdf), which outlines the city's strategic plan to meet it's 2020 goal.
Click here for information on rebates and programs available to Fort Collins residents.
The resource manager in Ellensburg, WA came up with a plan to bring solar power to the whole community. In this Q&A he provides some useful advice on everything from financing to choosing the right solar panels.
To read about Berkeley's clean energy initiatives, check out the City of Berkeley official website.
Visit San Francisco's environment department at SFenvironment.org to learn about the city's environmental programs and policies.
See GoSolarSF for information on solar installation incentives and a map of solar activity in the city of San Francisco.
San Francisco Energy Watch provides energy assessments and discounts on efficiency installations and equipment.
Download the City of Dallas Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory (pdf) for details on the city's most recent energy audit.
See the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for information on how the state is working to preserve the air, land and water in Texas.
The Dallas Office of Environmental Quality works with the city toward environmental improvements in Dallas.
Green Dallas is the city's hub for local green initiatives and information.
Download the Boston Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventories (pdf) for details on the city's energy audits.
See Sparking Boston's Climate Revolution Summary Report (pdf) for Climate Action Leadership Committee and Community Advisory Committee recommendations.
Read Boston's Solar America Cities profile to learn about Boston's efforts to increase local solar energy capacity.
Visit Solar Boston for a map of solar installations in the city.
The Oakland Green Jobs Corps provides green jobs training and employment services for low-income adults in Oakland.
See the Oakland Green Building Resource Center (GBRC) for local green building support.
See Energy Upgrade California in Alameda County to learn about the program's goals and projects.
See the Oakland Sustainability Program, through the City of Oakland Public Works Program, for information on upcoming local sustainability events, recent sustainability inititatives and programs and to download Oakland Sustainable Community Development progress reports.
See Get Green Columbus for a summary of the city's sustainability efforts from 2005-2009.
Download the Columbus Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Project List (pdf) for details on how the city is using the grant.
Download the Get Green 2010 Memo (pdf) for Columbus' green action plan.
The Columbus Green Forum promotes energy efficient and environmentally sustainable building in Central Ohio.
Download the Ten Year Reform and Efficiency and Action Plan (pdf) for the city's plan reduce municipal spending.
The Ecomony, Energy and Environment (E3) program is a collaboration between local and federal governments, manufacturers and utilites working toward greener industry.
Download the Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions (pdf) for information on the city's latest energy audit.
Download the PlanNYC Progress Report 2010 for a summary of the city's green acheivements to date.
See New York City's Greener, Greater Buildings Plan for details on the city's strategies for improving energy efficiency in existing buildings.
See New York City's Solar America Cities profile to learn about what New York is doing to increase solar energy capacity in the city.
Download the Austin Climate Protection Plan 2009 Annual Report for details on the city's progress.
Visit CoolAustin.org to learn about the city's efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Click here to learn about the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Project in Austin.
Click here to learn about Austin's Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance.
See the Chicago Climate Action Plan for comprehensive details on the city's carbon reduction initiatives and for information on what businesses and residents can do to help.
Chicago's Climate Action Plan Progress Report 2008-2009 provides an update on the the first two years of city's efforts.
The Chicago Green Office Challenge is a friendly competition designed to inspire office tenants and property managers to conserve energy in office buildings.
The City of Chicago Environment Department liasons with other city departments, state agencies and nonprofits to develop and enforce environmental codes and regulations.
Download the Sustainable Long Beach Sustainable City Action Plan for details on the city's conservation goals and strategies.
Visit the Long Beach Office of Sustainability to read about the city's efforts to implement renewable energy.
See the 5th District Solar & Sustainability Task Force for information on the group's activity including meeting dates and agendas.
Berkeley FIRST provides financing for local solar installations.
See berkeleyclimateaction.org for a pdf of the Berkeley Climate Action Plan and an executive summary of the city's progress.
See the Berkeley Office of Energy and Sustainable Development for information on energy efficiency programs, rebates and resources.
Click here for information on rebates for upgrading to water-saving fixtures and appliances in Huntington Beach.
Click here for building energy efficiency standards in Hungtington Beach.
Click here for information on the Community Energy Partnership (CEP), a coalition working toward effective energy efficiency programs in the seven participating Southern California cities.
Click here for information on energy efficiency rebates available to Southern California residents.
Click here for information on the Climate Action Program in Santa Cruz.
Click here for the City of Santa Cruz Green Building Program.
Visit 30x20.org to join a Climate Action Team in Santa Cruz and pledge to reduce your carbon emissions.
Click here for a map of green projects underway in Beaverton.
Click here for information on the launch of Solar Beaverton, a pilot program providing solar incentives to 50 homeowners in Beaverton.
Sustainable Beaverton provides information on the city's most recent conservation initiatives.
Click here for information on energy efficiency rebates in Denton.
Download the final report of the Texas REConnect project, which considered how Texas utlities respond to requests for net metering and interconnecting small renewable energy generators.
The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System site provides information about applicability, siting and design criteria.
Georgia's Department of Community Affairs has a page on best practices for porous paving.
Portland, Oregon's Bureau of Environmental Service pervious paving projects page.
City of Chicago's permeable paving site with many local examples.
San Francisco Parks Trust permeable landscape page.
Environmental Health Perspectives provides a good overview in "Paving Paradise: The Peril of Impermeable Surfaces."
NRDC's report Stormwater Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution considers a variety of responses implemented across the country.
US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation: with a mission to "manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public" the bureau provides information about water levels in reservoirs throughout the West, updates on dams, powerplants and related projects and a library of water reclamation materials.
Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART program: Information on WaterSMART grants for water and energy conservation projects, basin studies with integrated management plans and water supply reviews and details on the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives in the Southwest.
In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming (NRDC report)
Water Efficiency Saves Energy (NRDC report)
Las Vegas Water District conservation pages
Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNVA) conservation and rebates
Live in NYC and wonder what you can recycle and how? This guide will help.
Text of New York's Child Safe Playing Fields Act
Text of Connecticut's ban on pesticide use on school grounds
Cities for Cycling: National Association of City Transportation Officials project to catalog, promote and implement the world's best bicycle transportation practices in American municipalities. Includes several best practices sheets.
Cycling in the Netherlands: Guide to bicycling policies in the Netherlands (pdf)
Fietsberaad: Dutch cycling knowledge center
Bikeability: UK Cycling Proficiency Test
"At the Frontiers of Cycling: Policy Innovations in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany." World Transport Policy and Practice, Vol. 13, No. 3, December 2007, pp. 8-57
"How to Get More Bicyclists on the Road: To Boost Urban Bicycling, Figure Out What Women Want." Linda Baker. Scientific American, October 2009.
Bikes Belong: Research Resources
Designing Cities for Bicycle Transportation
Chicago Bike Lane Design Guide (pdf)
Los Angeles Bike Plan Draft, Chapter 5: Technical Design Handbook (pdf)
Minneapolis Bicycle Facility Manual (pdf)
New City York Street Design Manual
New York City's Ninth Avenue Bicycle Path and Complete Street, for ITE (pdf)
Portland Bikeway Design Best Practices, Appendix D
San Francisco Bicycle Plan Update: Supplemental Design Guidelines (pdf)
San Francisco Shared Markings Study (pdf)
London Cycling Design Standards, Transport for London (UK)
Cycling Guidelines and Practical Details Issue 2, Sustrans (UK)
Collection of Cycle Concepts, Danish Road Directorate (Denmark)
Database of Solar Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (lists some FIT programs), Department of Energy
Gainesville Regional Utilities feed-in-tariff documents
Sacramento Municipal Utility District FIT page
Text of the Vermont Energy Act of 2009 (H. 446) (pdf)
A Policy Maker's Guide to Feed-in Tariff Design, produced by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (pdf)
Minute, Morning, Month: Apply these water-saving measures in your yard or garden.
Minute, Morning, Month: Save water and reduce runoff. Install permeable pavement.
Change Your Commute, Change Your City
Why, What a Smart Grid You Have!
Minute, Morning, Month: Save the oceans. Choose green power.
Renewable Energy for America: Harvesting the Benefits of Homegrown, Renewable Energy
Wind, Solar and Biomass Energy Today
NYC Composting...With or Without Worms (Video)
How to Build a Compost Bin (From Reclaimed Wood)
City Search
- Akron, OH
- Ann Arbor, MI
- Antioch, CA
- Arlington Heights, IL
- Arvada, CO
- Athens, GA
- Aurora, CO
- Austin, TX
- Beaverton, OR
- Bellevue, WA
- Bellingham, WA
- Berkeley, CA
- Bloomington, IL
- Boca Raton, FL
- Boise, ID
- Bolingbrook, IL
- Boston, MA
- Boulder, CO
- Bremerton,
- Burbank, CA
- Burnsville, MN
- Cambridge, MA
- Cape Coral, FL
- Carlsbad, CA
- Champaign, IL
- Charleston, SC
- Charlotte, NC
- Chesapeake, VA
- Chicago, IL
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Davis,
- Denton, TX
- Denver, CO
- Dubuque, IA
- Duluth, MN
- Edison, NJ
- El Cajon, CA
- El Monte, CA
- El Paso, TX
- Ellensburg, Washington
- Eugene, OR
- Everett, WA
- Fall River, MA
- Fayetteville, AR
- Flagstaff, AZ
- Fort Collins, CO
- Fremont, CA
- Fullerton, CA
- Gastonia, NC
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Greenville, SC
- Hayward, CA
- Hemet, CA
- Henderson, NV
- Hoffman Estates, IL
- Honolulu, HI
- Houston, TX
- Huntington Beach, CA
- Huntsville, AL
- Irondequoit, NY
- Irvine, CA
- Jacksonville, FL
- Jersey City,
- Kansas City, MO
- La Crosse, WI
- La Habra, CA
- La Mesa, CA
- Laredo, TX
- Las Vegas, NV
- Lincoln,
- Long Beach, CA
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Lowell, MA
- Madison, WI
- Maui, HI
- Merced, CA
- Mesa, AZ
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Mission Viejo, CA
- Mountain View, CA
- Naperville, IL
- Nashua, NH
- New Haven, CT
- New York, NY
- Newton, MA
- Norwalk, CT
- Oakland, CA
- Ontario, CA
- Orem, UT
- Palmdale, CA
- Petaluma, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Portland, OR
- Redmond, WA
- Redwood City, CA
- Reno, NV
- Riverside, CA
- Rochester, NY
- Roseville, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salem, OR
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Mateo, CA
- San Ramon, CA
- Santa Clara, CA
- Santa Clarita, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Santa Fe, NM
- Santa Monica, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Sarasota, FL
- Scottsdale, AZ
- Seattle, WA
- Spokane, WA
- Springfield, IL
- St. Paul, MN
- Stamford, CT
- Stockton, CA
- Sunnyvale, CA
- Tacoma, WA
- Tallahassee, FL
- Tampa, FL
- Tempe, AZ
- Thousand Oaks, CA
- Turlock, CA
- Union City, CA
- Union Township, NJ
- Urbana,
- Vallejo, CA
- Ventura, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Warwick, RI
- Washington, DC
- Wayne, NJ
- Westminster, CA
- Westminster, CO
- Wheaton, IL







Comments
Post new comment