City of Grand Junction, Colorado

The City of Grand Junction
and Energy Conservation
GJ CORE (Conserving Our Resources Efficiently)
2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND 2009 GOALS

Mobility/Fleet
Reduce fuel consumption and resulting emissions through the purchase of flex-fuel vehicles, hybrids, electric cars and bio-diesel, considering fuel economy and vehicle size requirements for all purchases, and by reducing vehicle miles traveled.
Reduce petroleum-based fuel consumption by 20% by 2012, with 2007 as the base year

2008 Accomplishments:

Purchased 3 hybrids and 1 electric vehicle
Completed E-85 pump
Required all flex vehicles to use E-85

2009 Goals:

Fleet/User Needs Inventory
Replacement—”best-fit” in size, type and fuel economy
“Pool” Vehicles for special purposes
Monitor fuel use by division
Incentives for employees to reduce trips
Utilize audio and video conferencing

Energy and Buildings/Facilities
Reduce energy consumption at all City buildings and facilities by 20% by 2012 with 2007 as the base year.

Hired JCI for energy audit and CNG analysis
Proceeding with Performance Contracting:

$2 million in efficiency upgrades and renewables
Includes 18 buildings and various parks facilities
Various improvements including Lighting, HVAC, envelope improvements, controls and solar
5 buildings for possible LEEDS for existing buildings certification

PV solar installations

Received a grant for solar at Two Rivers and Visitors Center
15 kw system at Two Rivers—roof mounted and awnings on south side
5 kw system at Visitors Center on Horizon Drive—roof mounted

Persigo CNG Project
Convert digester gas to compressed natural gas that could be used in vehicles

Could produce 390 Gallons of Gasoline Equivalent of CNG each day or up to 11,700 miles of light vehicle driving each day.
Possible vehicles include light trucks and cars for city use, refuse trucks and GVT buses.

Employee Education Program—Incentives/Mandates/Competition
Employee Education/buy in is critical to the success of the program. Other programs have found additional energy savings as a result of education programs.

SEEC (Sustainable Energy Education and Communications)
Making it a part of the organization’s culture
In addition to mandates, are considering a program that offers incentives/rewards and friendly competition to meet our goals

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle
Develop programs and policies to reduce the amount of waste and increase recycling and reduce paper consumption 20% by 2012

2008 Accomplishments:

Recycling at Two Rivers and City Hall
Purchased recycling bins and “bottles” and Big Bellies
JUCO Recycling Event
Enhanced Recycling Drop-Off Area
E-waste Recycling Daily

2009 Goals:

Recycling at all City Facilities and Events
Business Plan/Phasing for Recycling Center
Grant Application for Improvements at Recycling Center
Program to educate/reduce/track paper use
JUCO Recycling
Evaluation of Additional drop-off sites
Proper disposal of electronics/hazardous materials
Electronic paychecks/newsletters

Purchasing Policies

2008 Accomplishments:

Purchasing Policy Revised to include “green” provisions
RFP for “green” janitorial program
RFP for Two Rivers vendor included a “green” component

2009 Goals:

Implement “green” janitorial program
Incorporate “green” purchasing policies in all procurement
Define required recycled content of all paper products
Consolidate electronics
E-Star recommendations

Water Conservation
Reduce water consumption at all City facilities by 10% by 2012, with 2007 as the base year

Support the efforts of DRIP (Drought Response Plan)
Include water conservation measures in Performance Contracting
Track and monitor all water use, including irrigation
Encourage xeric landscaping practices for all City facilities

New Energy Communities Grant

Partners—Mesa County, City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Town of Palisade, GJ Housing Authority
Greening Public Facilities, Energy Equipment Incentives
Renewable Energy Demonstration Project—solar at Two Rivers and Visitors Center and Persigo CNG project
Sustainability Management System
Greening Downtowns—City Center Catalyst Project

Where do we go from here—community involvement:

- Develop a City webpage as a resource for GJ CORE activities and links to other information
- E-Star for new construction
- Implement E-government in City services
- Promote programs and activities through a variety of means—City newsletter, Farmers Market, website, seminars
- Sustainability as a part of the Comprehensive Plan

View Two Rivers Convention Center Solar Generation

View Visitor and Convention Bureau Solar Generation

Saving Through Energy Efficiency

In 2007, the Grand Junction City Council signed a Resolution committing to energy conservation efforts whenever and wherever feasible in the City of Grand Junction. Following that resolution, the City of Grand Junction formed an energy conservation team, GJ CORE
(Conserving Our Resources Efficiently) to assess and monitor the progress of proposed initiatives and current conservation practices, work to introduce new practices, and explore new conservation opportunities from other communities and outside entities. The purpose of GJ CORE is to promote and monitor waste reduction, energy conservation, water conservation, alternative transportation, and pollution reduction and prevention in all City operations.

The City of Grand Junction has taken a leadership role in the larger community in sustainability and energy conservation. In 2008, we applied for, and received, a New Energy Communities Grant from the State of Colorado. For that grant, we partnered with Mesa County, two neighboring communities, Fruita and Palisade, and the local Housing Authority on a variety of innovative projects. We will continue to work with all of those entities in partnership.

We will also continue to work with Housing Resources of Western Colorado on a number of community-wide efforts. We are currently partners in the Energy Star for New Construction program, being administered by Housing Resources. In addition, Housing Resources administers the Weatherization program for the county, and will be the administrator of our proposed energy audit programs.

In just two years, the City has established goals and objectives and has achieved many of them, including:

Purchase of hybrids and electric vehicles for fleet
E-85 fueling station
Entered into a Performance Contract for energy efficiency upgrades including solar installations at two facilities
Completing a feasibility study to convert digester gas from the wastewater treatment plant to Compress Natural Gas for use in vehicles
Implementing an employee sustainability education program
Implemented recycling at all City facilities and major events
Implemented “green” janitorial contract
Purchasing policy revised to include “green” provisions
Sponsored a local E-Star for New Construction program

The City of Grand Junction is committed to our GJ CORE efforts and to doing what we can to be a leader in energy efficiency.