Recycling and Greenprint Denver
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The City continues environmental innovation and looks to the future.
The City and County of Denver has a well-established history of environmental innovation…from launching one of the nation’s first ‘green fleets’ of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, to pioneering the use of energy-efficient and long-lasting LED traffic signals. With the introduction of Greenprint Denver initiative in 2006, the City has an economic and environmental plan that identifies practices and policies that can support environmental health, economic opportunity and smart growth strategies for years to come.
What programs are in place now?
The planting of trees continues in the Metro Denver area with a goal of one million new trees to be in place by the year 2025. Trees will facilitate sustainability by improving the quality of our natural surroundings. In addition, the City maintains a ‘Green Fleet’ of hybrid cars and uses bio-diesel fuel in larger trucks and heavy equipment. Nearly 43% of the City’s total fleet is alternately fueled or powered vehicles.
The City ‘Climate Action Plan’ has as its goal a 10% per capita reduction in greenhouse gas by 2012 and a 25% absolute reduction by 2020.
How does Greenprint Denver influence Denver’s environment?
The City has instituted monthly ‘Paper-free Fridays’ for all offices. City employees are involved in using fewer plastic water bottles, and City Council district offices recently provided new CFL light bulbs for their constituents. In the future, all renovated and new City buildings will conform to the ‘Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’ standards. The Webb Office building, the new Justice Center Parking garage and the new Justice Center, when completed, will be LEED certified buildings.
Denver International Airport is building its own 2 megawatt solar power system as well.
More Information:
On the next edition of Council Matters, join host Beverly Weaver and other distinguished members of City Council to take a look at projects and issues of City-wide importance, and of a high priority to your City Council.