The Future of Local Sustainability Codes: Insights from Local Experts

The city of Aspen, in partnership with the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE), has released its 2024 benchmarking annual report.

Leslie Kaplan’s dream of building a fully electric home in Basalt has finally come to fruition, marking a significant milestone in her journey toward sustainable living. She chose to construct a duplex in Stott’s Mill for her family and as a long-term investment.

Bill Stirling devoted 30 years to CORE, our community, and the environment.

On August 14, 2024, the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) hosted the first of two anniversary events, "Celebrating 30 Years of Impact," at the Backyard of Buttermilk Lodge.

On twenty-two acres of land leased from Pitkin County and right off Highway 82 is Two Roots Farm , a beautiful and bountiful farm that provides produce for a 250-member Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an onsite farm stand, and local restaurants in our community. Owner Harper Kaufam knows the importance of local, organic farming and started the farm in 2016. Her mission is to combat climate change through sustainable farming practices and grow the healthiest food possible while fostering a positive work environment, vibrant soil, and community connection. Harper needed to install a new greenhouse for plant propagation to get her through the winter months. Greenhouses typically rely on a propane heating system, but with climate in mind, she wanted to stay away from fossil fuels. She learned about an innovative way to heat a greenhouse from the Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute . It’s called a climate battery and uses the ground temperatures to control the greenhouse temperature. This innovative system will heat in the winter and cool in the summer and will reduce Two Roots’ reliance on fossil fuels, reduce costs, and extend their growing season. CORE is a supporter of new, innovative ideas that lower carbon emissions and help our community thrive, so we provided a $30,000 grant to fund this project. This project will start in 2024, so stay tuned for an update once the climate battery is installed. Harper is always looking for ways to lower the farm’s carbon footprint whether it's electrifying to use the on-site solar panels or installing a new climate battery. She takes a holistic approach, considering soil health, greenhouse gas emissions, and food quality. Everything is hand-powered instead of relying on diesel machinery, and the plants help sequester carbon. She uses a regenerative process to keep the soil healthy and grows a variety of vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, and radishes. CORE supports projects that matter to our community and the locals living here. We remove the financial barrier and help more people to take action, bringing equity and inclusivity to the climate crisis. Give our Energy Concierge a call today to learn how you can lower your carbon footprint.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where memories are made, souls are fed, and connections are forged. It’s also a hotspot for energy consumption. Kitchens use large amounts of electricity, water, and gas to wash dishes, keep food fresh, and cook meals. Lighting and refrigerators, for example, are used in nearly every home, and they are the fourth and fifth biggest consumers of electricity use in households in the United States. Take steps to transform your kitchen into an environmentally sustainable space, enhance your culinary experience, and establish a safe and healthy living area. Here are a few ingredients to a recipe for a comfortable and welcoming climate-conscious kitchen. Questions? Give us a call. We’re here to help guide you through the process. Step 1: Buy Local 🥬🍏😎🌏 One of the simplest and most impactful ways to reduce carbon emissions is to source your food locally, like with a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program . By purchasing from local farmers and participating in CSAs, you shrink your carbon footprint in several ways: Transportation: Local food requires less travel, minimizing fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Refrigeration: Fresher, locally sourced food requires less energy for chilling. Packaging: Buying locally reduces the need for additional packaging, minimizing waste. Storage: With less need for large warehouses, energy consumption is reduced. [call out: Go a step further in reducing your impact on the environment and consider supporting organizations like The Fa rm Collaborat ive that practice sustainable agriculture. By adopting energy-saving farming practices, such as alley croppin g , these organizations help you double up on energy savings while providing locally grown ingredients.] Step 2: Switch to LEDs ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) are a game-changer when it comes to significantly reducing energy consumption in your kitchen. They use only 25% of the energy needed to light a room compared to traditional incandescent bulbs and have a long er lifesp an . While incandescent bulbs last about 1,000 hours and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) last about 10,000 hours, LEDs can last up to 25,000 hours or more. Step 3: Cook with Induction ⚡⚡⚡ Induction cooktops offer a safe and energy-efficient alternative to traditional gas stoves that rely on open flames and fill your home with invisi ble and har mful gasses like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Conversely, induction cooktops use safe electromagnetic fields to generate heat directly into pots and pans. During the process, the cooktop remains cool and safe to the touch, minimizing the risk of burns. In addition to being a better alternative for the well-being of you and your family, induction cooktops save energy and provide more heat, helping boil water faster, for example. With 33% higher energy efficiency compared to gas stoves, this precise cooking option is an excellent choice for reducing energy consumption. Step 4: Program Your Thermostat ⚡⚡⚡ Take control of your kitchen's climate by installing programmable or Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats. These devices allow you to schedule temperature adjustments based on your daily routines, optimizing energy usage throughout the day. Smart thermostats can even learn your preferences and adjust the temperature based on room occupancy. By utilizing a programmable thermostat, you can achieve energy savings of up to 30% while maintaining a comfortable environment. Step 5: Reach for ENERGY STAR ⚡ Upgrade your kitchen appliances to ENERGY STAR -certified models to achieve significant energy savings. ENERGY STAR appliances meet strict energy efficiency criteria set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). By opting for ENERGY STAR refrigerators and dishwashers, you can reduce energy consumption by up to 10% and 12%, respectively. When searching for an ENERGY STAR refrigerator, Mary Wiener, CORE’s Senior Energy Concierge, recommends, “Invest in the simplest refrigerator possible. For maximum efficiency, choose refrigerators with the freezer on top or bottom of the fridge, instead of having the refrigerator and freezer side-by-side.” “It’s also a good idea to clean the coils in the back and the front of the refrigerator every quarter so that heat dissipates effectively. When the coils are dirty, the refrigerator has to work harder to cool its interior, leading to increased energy consumption and higher electricity bills.” Conclusion The kitchen holds a special place in our homes and lives. By adopting sustainable practices, investing in energy-efficient appliances, and supporting local initiatives, you can create a greener kitchen without compromising on safety or the culinary delights it offers. Connect with us to navigate valuable resources, grants, rebates, and contractors that can support you on your path toward a more environmentally friendly kitchen.

On May 30, 2024, leaders in sustainable building code development and implementation convened before those who put building codes into action through their everyday work.  “The Future of Local Sustainability Codes,” hosted by the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) , AIA Colorado , Land & Shelter Architecture + Planning, and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) , gathered speakers from Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle Counties. Panelists explored the complexities and opportunities surrounding local sustainability building codes, with an audience of architects, builders, and community members who routinely navigate our local building landscape. Moderated by Cortney Woller of CCY Architects , the panel provided diverse perspectives on advancing environmental stewardship through policy, practice, and collaboration. Addressing Technical and Regulatory Challenges Woller engaged panelists in discussions on successful initiatives, upcoming challenges, and opportunities for industry professionals to drive meaningful change by aligning sustainable building codes across neighboring jurisdictions. Each community represented is urgently addressing established climate action goals. However, building in our distinctive mountain communities poses unique challenges in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change impacts. When residential building sizes max out at 9,250 square feet, how does the building sector balance client demands, revenue generation, technology access, labor availability, regulatory navigation, luxury living, and sustainable practices? Moreover, inconsistencies in building code language across Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle Counties compound challenges for architects and builders serving clients throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. For example, where one community imposes energy use restrictions, another may have higher thresholds. Audience members actively engaged with panelists, grappling with these complex issues. Overcoming community resistance and securing buy-in from elected officials remain significant hurdles as local government staff and energy partners strive to develop and implement new code language efficiently and effectively. In the past year, community development and utility experts from throughout the Roaring Fork Valley have come together to discuss how they can better align sustainable building codes. They aim to enact net-zero energy codes universally in a way that reflects their individual community values while advancing climate action goals. Time is of the utmost essence as they develop this framework. National and State building codes are swiftly evolving in response to the rapid pace of climate change. Our communities are proactively developing approaches that support stakeholders, respecting their time and resources. Call to Action As our local communities forge ahead in combating climate change in the built environment, the call to action grows louder. Continued collaboration and education among policymakers, architects, builders, and community members are essential. Sharing personal experiences with municipal workers and elected officials is key to garnering public support as we navigate the complexities of carbon reduction, energy efficiency, and regulatory frameworks. Looking ahead, integrating financial and time-saving incentives, such as expedited permitting and funding for electric projects, will foster quicker acceptance and compliance with evolving energy usage norms. And, as we have for the past 30 years, CORE stands ready to support energy-efficiency projects with technical assistance, funding opportunities, and local provider connections. Special Thanks Moderator: Cortney Woller, CCY Architects Panelists: John Doyle – City Council, City of Aspen Jeff Erickson – Pitkin Chief Building Official, Pitkin County Kara Silbernagel, Deputy County Manager, Pitkin County Bonnie Muhigirwa – Chief Building Officer, City of Aspen Greg Poschman – Commissioner, Pitkin County Kim Schlaepfer – Managing Director, Lotus Engineering & Sustainability Marty Treadyway – CEO, Net Zero Builders

Architecture, as both an art and science, goes beyond the construction of buildings; it embraces the shaping of our environments to meet the basic human need for shelter while intertwining culture, functionality, and community.

The Yellow Brick is one of the historical buildings of Aspen and has been a hub for education and childcare since 1960. Today, it sees more than 135 kids daily from ages two months to five years, houses three preschools, and provides jobs for locals in our community. With safety as a priority, they continue to update the Yellow Brick building while preserving the history and iconic facade. A recent project on their list was adding an icemelt system. Until now, the Yellow Brick used traditional ice melt crystals to melt the snow and ice that covered their exterior concrete steps in the winter, which can contribute to pollution in our watersheds and rivers. Also, the City of Aspen committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2030. With all of this in mind, the Yellow Brick turned to CORE. And, with the guidance of CORE’s Energy Concierge decided to install a heat pump icemelt system, which will be ready for use this coming winter. The new icemelt system will provide safety for families and teachers using the Yellow Brick and serve as an example for others to use electric heat pumps. Cold climate heat pumps are three times more efficient than a gas boiler icemelt system and run on electricity. Further, since the City of Aspen Utility is 100% renewable energy, the Yellow Brick’s icemelt system is net-zero, saving energy and increasing the overall health and well-being of our community. Trevor, Yellow Brick’s building manager, said it was easy to work with CORE, and that Tim, CORE’s Energy Concierge was very responsive. The icemelt system will be added to the list of projects that CORE has worked on with the Yellow Brick, further aiding in the transition to a clean energy future. Give our Energy Concierge a call today to learn how you can lower your carbon footprint, too.