Colorado State Parks is Going Green

The grass outside may be brown, but expect Colorado State Parks to get a lot greener. Under House Bill 1349, signed by the governor in 2010, State Parks is encouraged to supply or completely offset its electric usage at all 42 state parks by 2020. This initiative, called Re-Energize Colorado, may be achieved by wind energy, solar power, and other forms of renewable energy.
 
Lake Pueblo State Park is the first park being considered for a solar facility, likely to be located on the area known as The Honor Farm.  The future facility is hoped to save $100,000 in electrical energy per year.  While it is conceivable to have a 1 or 2 megawatt facility built by the end of 2011, Parks is working to overcome the challenges constructing a facility at that area of the park.

Since the 1970s, attempts have been made to incorporate renewable energy at State Parks. At Sylvan Lake State Park, the maintenance facility is off-grid, and the cabins and yurts are solar powered. Other efforts installed at parks in the 70’s have since reached the end of their life and replacement or upgrades are currently being considered.

According to park survey results compiled by Corona Research, a majority of park visitors (71%) think that installing renewable energy sources in out-of-the way areas to power the park or sell on the grid should be at least a moderate priority.

“We believe in anything that will help us become more efficient and better stewards of the natural environment,” said State Parks Capital Program Manager Eric Scholz. “But we won’t agree to anything that negatively impacts the resources of the park or creates a sharp increase in operational costs.”

1 Million Pounds Lighter

By 2012, State Parks may reduce its carbon footprint by 1 million pounds. Through energy retrofits, Parks is hoping to become 10 to 20 percent more efficient.

Unrelated to HB 1349, this objective will be implemented by switching to energy-saving light bulbs and more efficient furnaces—saving parks about $100,000 in annual utility bills, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 1 million pounds.

Future designs of state park buildings will be LEED certified with smarter designs. This may include better insulation, passive solar principles, LED lights and waterless urinals.

Employees will also be educated on the best energy-saving tactics at their parks.