11. Denver, CO

Denver, CO: On the Fast Track

Denver, CO: On the Fast Track

In 2008, Denver played host to what planners hope will go down in history as the "greenest" political convention ever. The city's sustainability director reports that more than 25,000 miles were clocked on the 1,000 free bikes available for conference-goers' use. In fact, the bikeshare program was so successful, the Mile High City is planning to start its own. In other news, if Denver's utilities division crunches its numbers right (and we trust that they do), then by the end of 2008, the city will have increased its renewable energy portfolio by nearly 1000 percent since 2005. With momentum like that, Denver could meet the higher end of its goal of 20 percent renewables in less than five years. Denver's on track and moving forward in most SustainLane categories, but what we're really dreaming of is an increase in its solid waste diversion rate (9.5) by 1000 percent!

(Photo by Dtobias)

Denver's Rankings

Denver sustainlability rankings chart Cities are ranked relative to each other. A longer bar denotes a higher ranking.
Denver, CO: City Charts

Stories and Perspectives

Denver Youth Corps Teaches Low-Income Residents...

Denver Youth Corps Teaches Low-Income Residents...

Michael Phelps probably wouldn’t blink if asked to swim the length of twenty-five Olympic-sized swimming pools. But imagine asking him to save that much water? That’s what Denver youth achieved by mid-2008. They also reduced the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere by nearly two million pounds per year. These gold-medal feats were accomplished as part of Denver’s Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) project. In 2006, MHYC partnered with the state’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program and began going into homes to conduct energy audits and distribute power-saving CFL light bulbs.more »

Denver Zoo Plans Nation's First LEED Certified Habitat

Denver Zoo Plans Nation's First LEED Certified Habitat

Hamburger wrappers, cotton candy sticks and leopard dung may soon be powering the country’s first ever LEED-certified habitat at the Denver Zoo. If all goes as planned, the 50 million dollar, ten-acre Asia Tropics campus will be LEED Gold certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The habitat, which should be completed in 2011, will primarily house Asian elephants, Indian rhinoceroses, and Malayan tapirs. Many zoos have LEED certified buildings or exhibits, but no other zoo in the U.S. has sought certification for an entire habitat.more »

How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?

How Big is Your Carbon Footprint?

How do you measure a city’s “real” carbon footprint? It’s a question scientists have asked for decades, and one that Anu Ramaswami has finally answered.
The engineering professor, along with her Ph.D. students at the University of Colorado at Denver, has pioneered the first-ever expanded carbon footprint computation. University officials say it’s the most sophisticated formula yet for measuring an entire city’s greenhouse gas emissions.more »

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Latest Comments
Ken O.
Ken O. says

As of mid-January this year federal officials signed off on $308 million in funding to complete Denver's western RTD light rail segment over the next few years. Good news!

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Denver Talk

Sophie B.

AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation Program

Mile High Youth Corps is looking to fill 12 AmeriCorps Leadership and Conservation positions. The job is open to youth ages 19 to 24 who possess a high school diploma or GED. more »

Program Representative - Wisconsin Energy Conservation

This opportunity will require you to make visits to recruit retailers and to present information on the benefits of participating in the Xcel Energy lighting, evaporative cooler and high efficiency water heater programs. more »

Michael D.

Ecologist - Toxicologist - Natural Resources Risk

Sequence is currently seeking a Senior Ecologist / Toxicologist to act as a portfolio project manager leading Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDA) and restoration projects throughout the United States. more »

Cities Compared
Cities Compared: Cities by Age

Cities Compared: Cities by Age

How does age of a city affect how it performs? Take a look at how pre- and post-war cities measure up to each other.

Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them. —Albert Einstein

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