As a mountain and recreation-based community, Avon has a close connection with the environment and understands that nature’s health and well-being is one of the town’s most valuable assets. Therefore, reducing Avon’s carbon footprint is one of the town’s priorities.

Working on implementing both small and large steps to help meet its goal of a 30 percent carbon footprint reduction by 2020, Avon has moved quickly from talk to action. Below are a few of the exciting renewable energy initiatives that Avon has undertaken:

• Climate Action Plan – The town hired SGM to evaluate Avon’s carbon footprint and recommend ways to reduce its impact on the environment.  In October 2007, SGM completed its report and offered many suggestions for reducing our carbon output.  
• Fuel Efficient Vehicles and Buses – Avon currently owns three hybrid gasoline-electric Ford Escapes and has one more on order.  In addition, in December the town put into service two high-efficiency buses, a hybrid bus and a high-efficiency diesel, which are on average 80% more fuel efficient than 2006 and older buses and should help to reduce Avon’s carbon dioxide output and fuel bills.
• 100% Wind Powered – In January 2008, Avon began purchasing 100% of its electricity in the form of wind power. Avon will purchase approximately 2,050 blocks of wind power per month, resulting in an average unit cost of $0.096/kw-hr with a total annual cost of about $61,000.  While the cost for wind power is about 28 percent higher than the standard power product, the town feels it’s an important step in both reducing its own carbon footprint and showing leadership to other citizens and municipalities.
• Avon Recreation Center Energy Audit – The Climate Action Plan showed the Recreation Center to be the biggest consumer of energy of all of the town’s buildings.  In February 2008, an energy audit was conducted by The Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO).  The GEO Report included several action items, such as lighting upgrades, door changes and improved insulation, among others.  The town is evaluating these recommendations and plans to implement those that are most feasible now and look at implementation of some of the larger recommendations at the time of a future Recreation Center expansion.
• Wastewater Heat Recovery System – Avon is partnering with the Eagle River Water and Sanitation District to assess the viability of building a wastewater heat recovery system that could be used to snowmelt new West Town Center streetscape or provide energy to town buildings.  This project is innovative in both its concept and its approach and would result in economic benefits to both agencies.  If used for snowmelt, an after-project operation savings of about $100,000 per year is estimated for Avon.

There are still many big issues and obstacles to tackle as Avon continues to “go green,” such as how to fund these initiatives, how stringent should building code standards be, and many other unanswered questions. However, the town is making a concerted effort to do what it can as soon as it can.  “Governments as a whole are one of the largest energy consumers in the world,” said Jennifer Strehler, Avon’s Public Works and Transportation Director. “We have a unique opportunity to lead by example in a way that positively impacts climate change.”

Finding sustainable solutions to our energy use is not only needed to help minimize climate change, but will benefit the residents of Avon by saving taxpayer money in the long-term, improving community livability, building the local economy and creating jobs, improving air quality and public health, creating a legacy of leadership, and adding distinction to our town character.