CLIMATE
ACTION
Our way of life relies on the very environment in which we are located - the beautiful Rocky Mountains - and we recognize our responsibility to take a leading role in mitigating climate change.
Our commitment to current and future generations.
Reduce emissions 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2050.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
The Town of Breckenridge adopted a goal of reaching 100% renewable electricity for municipal facilities by 2025 and a second goal to reach 100% renewable energy community-wide by 2035.
Our Strategies
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Advocate at the state level for a rapid increase in the amount of renewable energy.
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The Town of ​Breckenridge is a member of Colorado Communities for Climate Action (CC4CA)
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Develop a local renewable energy roadmap to ensure local resources are maximized.
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Check out the Town of Breckenridge's Roadmap to Renewables
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Execute a community campaign to increase solar installations through education and bulk purchase programs.
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Streamline the permitting process for renewable energy systems.
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Permits and Submittal Information for the Town of Breckenridge​
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Breckenridge has been designated a Silver SolSmart Community.
Interested in Solar?
Check out our Solar Programs page.​
On Your Roof:
Sign up for Solarize Summit to receive bulk discounts on top of government incentives to support you in going solar!
Don't live somewhere where you can add solar panels to a roof? No problem! Subscribe to a community solar garden and start saving money on your electric bill while supporting renewable power! There are several solar developers we partner with that can help you: US-Solar, Pivot Energy or Sun Share.
Community Solar:
Building Electrification
What does it mean?
Electrification means switching appliances and equipment that would otherwise run on natural gas—such as furnaces, water heating, stoves, and clothes dryers—to clean and efficient electric versions.
What are the benefits?
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Better for health and safety - no open flames, no carbon monoxide
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Better for the climate - 25-45% less greenhouse gas emissions
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Lower cost - no expensive natural gas line, lower bills
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Our Strategies
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The Summit Sustainable Building Code requires energy and water efficient design and construction for residential and commercial buildings.
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Adopt and enforce the most updated version of the International Energy Conservation Code.
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Explore beneficial electrification for various building types.
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Require mandatory commercial building retro-commissioning and benchmarking.
Implemented in 2007, Breckenridge was an early adopter of a sustainable building code. Today, the Town is evaluating the Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home program in an effort to achieve the goals of the Climate Action Plan.
BUILDING ENERGY
Breckenridge has long been a partner of EnergySmart Colorado, providing rebates for homeowners to improve energy efficiency in their homes.
Our Strategies
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Support adoption of more electric vehicles, expand infrastructure and incentives.
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20 EV charging stations have been added across four Town facilities (Ice Rink, Rec Center, Public works, Town Hall). An additional 22 EV charging plugs will be operational at the new South Gondola Parking Garage when it opens!
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Switch government fleets to EVs within replacement cycle and when appropriate models are available.
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Promote clean fuels and alternative fueling infrastructure for heavy-duty vehicles.
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Discourage single-occupancy vehicles through incentives, policies, and participation in regional initiatives.
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Provide incentives to use public transit within Summit County.
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Develop a bicycle and walking master plan.
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Partner with utilities to ensure grid capacity and rate structure for increased charging.
In 2018, the Breckenridge FreeRide won the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies' Resort Agency of the Year award. This honor recognizes best practices implemented by a transit agency that serve communities higher than 6,600 feet in altitude and provides transit for tourist destinations.
Our Strategies
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Adopt a Pay-As-You-Throw ordinance so users pay less the more they recycle.
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Consider supporting landfill bans on easily recycled items.
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Increase the number of glass collection sites and types of materials accepted at recycling centers.
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Require new construction to include space for recycling and food scrap collection
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Create codes to require recycling at new construction and remodel sites.
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Incentivize deconstruction and reuse instead of demolition.
Thanks to voter approval, the Summit County Resource Allocation Park now accepts cartons for recycling as well as mattresses and food scraps.
FORESTS
The Town of Breckenridge protects over 4,800 acres of open space which are critical for wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, view corridors, and sequestering carbon in an effort to reduce GHGs.
Our Strategies
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Support the development of a community-wide forest management plan.
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Improve the understanding of forest health in a changing climate.
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Educate and advocate for the important role of forests with regard to climate change.
The Open Space and Trails department produces a State of the Open Space report on an annual basis. The report summarizes the open space accomplishments and provides clear metrics to measure progress in the program over time.
^ Warming stripes are data visualization graphics that use a series of colored stripes chronologically ordered to visually portray long-term temperature trends. Warming stripes reflect a "minimalist" style, conceived to use color alone to avoid technical distractions and intuitively convey global warming trends to non-scientists. Each stripe represents the average temperature for a year.
Data Source: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration