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Sustainable City Operations

Highlight City Operations

Fleet

The City purchases vehicles with the most efficient gas/diesel mileage appropriate for their use. As new technologies come to the market, the City will consider purchase of those vehicles. Currently, Westminster has 35 hybrid vehicles including hybrid police interceptors, two Toyota Prius, and three plug-in hybrids (Chevy Volt). The City has two electric motorcycles for use in City parks and open spaces and one fully electric vehicle for parking operations. 

Clean Energy

70% of the City's occupied buildings source their electricity from 100% solar sources. The City partners with SUNSHARE, a community solar garden provider, to source this electricity. In addition, photovoltaic solar panel arrays are mounted on City Park Recreation Center, West View Recreation Center, The MAC, and the Public Safety building. 

The City has over 30 solar-powered LED parking lot lights throughout Downtown and City Hall.

Buildings

The City is constantly improving the energy efficiency of its buildings through HVAC upgrades and lighting projects. The City is in the process of developing a sustainable City building policy that will cover new construction, renovations and operations and maintenance.

Capital Improvement Projects

The City uses sustainability criteria to evaluate and improve long-term capital projects. The Envision rating tool is currently being used to evaluate some Public Works projects and we have one Envision Silver Certified building (solid-waste dewatering facility). All new City buildings are required to meet a LEED Silver Certification. 

Commuting and Transportation

The City offers innovative and practical commuting and transportation beneifts for its employees. As of 2024, all benefitted employees receive RTD's EcoPass, an unlimited ride pass for all of RTDs transit and rail services. In addition, the City and Commutrics partnered to provide employees with a one-stop shop that offers resources and rewards for different types of commuting, emphasizing sustainable options (i.e. transit, biking, walking). This custom platform for Transportation Demand Management (TDM) gamifies the experience of commuting and provides incentives for alternate transportation options. Read about the impact we had in 2023 here.

RecognitionsSolSmart-Logo_Gold_color.web.print_cropped638199453159918694

SolSmart Gold Designated Community: SolSmart recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations for making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar. Read about the recognition!

"Clean Air Champion" Award, Winter 2022: Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) recognized the City of Westminster as a “Clean Air Champion” for its work in reducing emissions by supporting electrification efforts and promoting low/no emission transit options.

Colorado Solar Friendly Communities, Platinum-level Certification: Recognition for resident and installer friendly solar permitting and review processes 

Colorado Clean Commute Approved: The Sustainability Office worked with our local transportation management agencies, Smart Commute and Commuting Solutions, to become Colorado Clean Commute Approved! The City completed an assessment about our workforce, conducted employee surveys, and were presented with a trip reduction plan that outlines clean commute suggestions.

Drive Clean Colorado Memeber: As a member, the City works with Drive Clean Colorado to support their vision for clean air and sustainability rooted in equity and economic opportunity. 

Progress Reports

Spring 2019

Fall 2018

Sustainability Examples 

  • The city's reclaimed water system treats waste water for use in landscape irrigation. By build out, the system will save 3,500 acre feet of water, enough to supply 8,150 single family homes with all of the water they would need for a year.
     
  • The City purchases over 4.2 mega watts of energy from community solar gardens for city facilities, saving the City $30,000 per year in energy costs and reducing the City's green house gas emissions. By the end of 2022, over 60% of the electricity sourced for City facilities will be from community solar. 
     
  • Westminster in a Platinum Level Solar Friendly Community and a SolSmart Gold designated community, and we have the numbers to prove it. As of 2017, 1,632 single-family homes have solar installed, which represents 6 percent of all homes. And those homes generate 8.9 megawatts of power.
     
  • The City has set a goal that 20% of housing units in Downtown Westminster would be workforce housing, targeting families earning 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
     
  • Westminster's golf courses-Legacy Ridge and Walnut Creek are dedicated to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Both of our award-winning golf courses follow the sustainability principles set forth by the Audubon International program and GCSAA's Best Management Practices, taking a proactive environmental approach to make sure we keep the "green" in golf. Find out more here. 

About Us

The Sustainability Office works to provide core services for residents and businesses. Our services aim to improve the livability of neighborhoods and homes, create vibrant economies, and improve environmental health. This is an aspirational vision for the city and it will take many partners working together to accomplish it. 

The Sustainability Office strives to:

  • Build a system of intentional support for residents, businesses and the environment that mitigates risks and proactively seeks out ways to ensure the community not only endures, but thrives.
  • Foster equitable opportunities that help residents feel at home and connected in their community and empowered to live their best lives.
  • Help the City responsibly manage all of the resources entrusted to our care to meet the needs of today without sacrificing the ability to meet the needs of the future.

The Sustainability Office leads an internal team comprised of staff from multiple divisions that identifies sustainability related issues and opportunities throughout the City organization and creates and champions solutions through policies, programs, financing, and organizational systems.

Members:

  • Matthew Burman; Parks, Recreation and Libraries
  • Patty Gendill; Parks, Recreation and Libraries
  • Shalene Hiller; Parks, Recreation and Libraries
  • Jake South, Stormwater
  • Patricia Prentice, Human Resources
  • Matt Moritz, Fire Department
  • Tim Read, Police Department
  • Anjelica McMahon, Environmental Management
  • Marissa Ihrhe, Environmental Management
  • Ricky Bennett, Information Technology
  • Nina Vue, Finance/Accounting
  • Bridger Tomlin, City Manager's Office (Chair/Team Manager) 

The Sustainability Office works with many local, regional, and state organizations and agencies. Through these partnerships we enhance and sustain our relationships with neighboring governments and community-based partners, leveraging our collective resources for maximum impact and benefit to Westminster. Here's a few of our partners:

Contact Us

sustainability@westminsterco.gov 
Sustainable Westminster

BridgerTomlinSAGEPhoto

Bridger Tomlin 
Sustainability Administrator 
303-658- 2662

 

 

 

 

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  • 4800 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster, CO 80031
  • Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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