Energy & Renewables
Durango's Energy Sustainability Principles
- Durango’s energy supply is carbon neutral, renewable, resilient, and affordable for all members of our community.
- Homes, businesses, and services use energy efficiently, and local energy production is utilized in support the local economy.
Durango's Energy Sustainability Objectives
- Energy Supply: Reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with Durango’s energy supply in an equitable manner while maintaining reliability and resilience to disruption.
- Energy Use: Increase the efficiency of energy use and promote energy conservation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy cost burdens.
About two-thirds of our community-wide greenhouse gas emissions are associated with energy consumption in buildings and community infrastructure like streetlighting and water pumping.
Energy Efficiency
- Follow these energy conservation tips and resources from LPEA's Together We Save website.
- Install LED lights including motion sensors and Dark Sky compliant lights outdoors.
- Install a programmable thermostat and set it to energy saving temperatures.
- Fix cracks and leaks in your home that let air out.
- Explore more tips from this CSU Extension home energy checklist.
Explore Residential and Commercial Energy Efficiency Rebates
- LPEA member efficiency rebates
- Atmos Energy customer rebates and incentives
- Black Hills Energy customer rebates
Support for Audits and Upgrades
- 4CORE oversees the Colorado Affordable Residential Energy (CARE) program for our community.
- The Energy Smart Colorado program, through our regional provider 4CORE, supports residential energy efficiency services for families and homeowners.
Install Solar
- The LPEA member solar website has everything you need to see if solar is a good fit for your home.
- Visit the City's Solar page for information on the City of Durango permitting process and other resources.
Green Power Purchases
- Sign up for LPEA's Green Power Purchase Program
Financing for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
- LPEA on-bill financing program
- State of Colorado RENU Loan program
The city of Durango is taking the following steps to reduce energy consumption, save money and cut municipal greenhouse gas emissions:
- Investment Grade Audit of city facilities completed in 2019 to identify energy and water efficiency opportunities, and solar PV potential.
- Purchase 100% Green Power through LPEA.
- On-site solar PV generation at the Airport Terminal and solar thermal generation at the Recreation Center.
- Recognized as a Green Power Partner and Green Power Community by the EPA.
- Methane gas is converted to electric energy at the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility.
- Synthetic oils recovered from city fleet vehicles are used to heat the maintenance shop.
- Motion-detection lighting installed at many city facilities.
- LED lighting retrofits.
- HVAC system upgradesare included in annual budget process.
- Recognized by the State Electronic Challenge for sustainable electronics purchasing, device management and disposal.
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy encourages purchase of efficient equipment.