Celebrating Earth Day
Everyday is Earth Day for the sustainability team at the Town of Mountain Village as we work hard year round to meet the Town's climate action goals and to educate and engage the community in sustainability efforts . As we celebrate Earth Day this year, April 22, 2022, we would like to reflect on the Town's past efforts to address climate change and look ahead to the rest of 2022.
Carbon Neutral by 2050
In an effort to fight climate change, the Town of Mountain Village has a goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The full scope of greenhouse gas emissions and targeted reduction strategies are outlined in the Town’s Climate Action Plan. As part of this, the Town has integrated renewable energy into its operations and is a U.S. EPA Green Power Partner. The Town is also an active member of Communities for Climate Action and the Sneffels Energy Board. In addition to municipal operations, the Town has prioritized affordability and accessibility of renewable energy for its residents through its Solar Energy Incentive Program. In 2022, Mountain Village is partnering with San Miguel County to expand solar co-op membership to all San Miguel County residents. Sign up for the co-op by May 1!
The Town is also working to mitigate emissions from transportation. Mountain Village’s free, public gondola system uses electricity sourced from 100% renewable energy. In 2021, eight Tesla Supercharger stations were installed at the Gondola Parking Garage. In 2022, the Town was awarded a Charge Ahead Colorado grant to install two electric vehicle charging stations; one in the Meadows and one at the Heritage Plaza Parking Garage. Stay tuned for more information!
Zero Waste by 2030
Plastics and food waste and trash, oh my! Colorado ranks as one of the twenty most wasteful states in the U.S., with a combined recycling and composting rate of just 15%. In 2020, over 5,900,000 tons of materials were sent to state landfills. While Mountain Village's recycling rates are higher than that of the state, solid waste makes up 3% of community greenhouse gas emissions. Waste diversion is an area that the Town is constantly evaluating and working to improve. Plastic packaging and film recycling is available outside of Town Hall and disposable mask recycling bins were made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the Town is working on a recycling education campaign and piloting a one-year composting program at Village Court Apartments. Town staff, in collaboration with the Green Team, will also be proposing a new Single-Use Plastics Reduction Ordinance to Town Council in April.
If you're interested in getting involved, Mountain Village's Community Clean Up Day is a great place to start. Subscribe to the Town's social media and newsletters for an announcement on the 2022 date!
Wildfire Mitigation
Recent, high-profile fires like the Marshall Fire and NCAR Fire in Boulder County have catapulted wildfires to the forefront of Colorado governments' and residents’ minds – and for good reason. The destruction wildfires cause has long-term economic, social, psychological, environmental, and physical impacts. The Town of Mountain Village offers two incentive programs for wildfire mitigation within the community: Wildfire Mitigation Defensible Space and Cedar Shake. When both programs are used on the same property, you can increase your home or building’s survival rate to about 99% when threatened with wildfire risk.
Water Conservation
Water is the most valuable and limited resource in Colorado. As such, water conservation and water quality are top priorities for Mountain Village. The Town contracts annually with San Miguel Watershed Coalition to provide water sampling and monitoring services. Last summer, the Town enacted outdoor water use restrictions to conserve water. If you are looking for ways to reduce your outdoor water use, check out the Town's Smart Irrigation Controls Program. This year, the Town was awarded a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to expand this program to include a free irrigation assessment for both residents and businesses. Stay tuned for more information!
Natural Resources
Mountain Village is over 50% open space. This land, particularly the forests, is a valuable resource for the community. Mountain Village provides resources on keeping land healthy and protected from pests. Check out the Town's online resources!
Wildlife Education for Community Safety
As the weather warms, please be aware of your surroundings and take measures to reduce your risk of a wildlife encounter. This includes ensuring that you have bear-proof trash and recycling bins, lock your car, windows and doors and never leave food outside or in your car. Check out the Town's online resources for living with wildlife, including indicators of wildlife, wildlife encounters and preventing conflicts.
