1. Municipal Progress
2005 - 2011
Dr Rosemarie Russo
Sept 12, 2011

2. Community Services
2005 - .39 metric tons per citizen
2010 - .31 metric tons per citizen

3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
From 2005 to 2010, GHG emissions dropped by
approximately 10% (i.e., 5170 metric tons).
The GHG Emissions reductions are equivalent to:
-Annual GHG emissions from 1,014 passenger
vehicles;
-CO2e emissions from the energy used by 448
homes for one year; or
-GHG emissions avoided by recycling 1634 tons of
material (equal to the weight of 5447 gorillas).

4. Municipal Operation CO2e Reductions
Reductions Financial Savings - Metric Tons Social Benefits
Asphalt, Concrete, & Toilet $266,356 4,250 Rebates to community members
Recycling and lower cost of City
services
Metal Recycling $69,000 425 Lower cost for City services
Waste Water Load $54,000 576
Shedding Lower energy bills for residents
Methane and Heat $28,943 -----
Recovery N/A
70W High Pressure $26,000 334
Sodium Lighting Lower cost for City services
Solid Waste Challenge* $24,000 5 Empowerment and education

5. Game Changing Projects
Economic: The City saved $594,248 through on-going and new innovative
projects such as server virtualization, lighting retrofits (LED and high-
pressure sodium), and tree plantings.
Equity: Rebates to community members and businesses, better air quality,
energy independence, healthy activities for families and community
engagement.
Environmental: The City avoided 16,344 metric tons of CO2e.
Education and Engagement: Internal training and Mindful Movies series
and several challenges with community members and Climate Wise
businesses (e.g. Solid Waste, Sustainability, and Bike to Work)

6. 2010 Awards
• Energy Star Awards – 215 N Mason, 281 N
College, and Operation Services
• Community Award – CO Alliance for Environmental
Education
• Climate Wise – Platinum
• Bicycle Friendly Community – Gold Level
• Top 22 “Smarter Cities” for programs and
investment in green energy by the National
Defense Council

7. Top Ten Goals Progress
• Despite increases in the number of employees and
square footage, the GHG annual reduction of 2%
was achieved for 2010.
• GHG goal is the most important because it reflects
electricity use, fuel use, and solid waste
management.
• Energy use accounts for 86% of the City’s GHG
emissions. The City did not meet its 2% per annum
energy reduction goal, but it’s using less carbon
intensive fuel so GHG emission reductions
associated with energy have decreased by 1%.

8. Health Connections
• Reductions of 3,231 metric
tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide
equivalent) from electricity
reductions.
• Air pollution leads to ozone
problems and affects asthma
and allergy sufferers.
• Air pollution benefits:
– 1197 pounds of NOx
– 1292 pounds SOx
– 1346 pounds of carbon
monoxide
– 118 pounds of VOCs

9. Fuel and Fleets
The City reduced traditional fuel use
and met its goal.
As of 2010 over 40% of fuel was
from biodiesel or compressed
natural gas.
City owns 555 alternative fuel fleet
vehicles.
In 2010 – 6 CNG buses replaced
traditional buses resulting in a
reduction in 126 metric tons of
GHG emissions. However,
electric use increased so the
GHG reductions were 70 metric
tons.

10. Recycling
• In 2010, the City’s office recycling program recycled 150 tons
which saved the equivalent of:
2,550 trees
1,050,000 gallons of water (City Pool – 3.5X)
• Food Waste Collection increased by >80% = 2 ton CO2e
reduction

11. Parks & Natural Areas
The City has met the 30% tree canopy goal.
Projects:
• Natural Areas planted 169 trees, 420 shrubs, and
constructed 3.5 acres of wetlands. Wetlands constitute the
highest natural areas value because of increased
biodiversity in those areas.
• Natural Areas botanists discovered five new state–listed
rare plants.
• Parks now has more parks certified as Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuaries than any other City in America.

12. Water
The City did not reached the 10% reduction goal in
buildings.
Projects:
• Installed solar-powered water pumps at Soapstone.
• Drip irrigation is being installed on all new medians.
• Ten water audits were conducted at City parks.

13. Innovation and Imagination
• Scott Foreman and Rick Jesser converted an on-site electric
cart to solar.
• The Gardens at Spring Creek donated 5,000 pounds of
produce to the Larimer County Food Bank.
• Operation Services retrofitted three existing hybrid vehicles
to plug-ins.

14. Community Capacity Building
• Keeping the pillars of sustainability in mind – the City planted trees
donated from local businesses at Fossil Creek Park, low-income
housing units, and Bennett Elementary School.
• The City distributed 46 composting “green cones” to Climate Wise
businesses, 15 community members, and 13 to City employees.
• Stimulus funds were used to improve bike lanes and paint bike boxes on
Plum Street.

15. Measurable Indicators
Indicator Improving Declining Neutral Insufficient Data
Carbon Emissions X
Electricity Use X
Natural Gas Use X
% or Renewable Purchased by the City X
# of LEED Employees X
% of LED Traffic Lights X
% of LEED Buildings X
Energy Consumption Related to Water Use X
Alternative Fuel Use X
Average Vehicle Ridership X
% of Hybrid Vehicles in Fleet X
Volume of Recycled Material X

16. Measurable Indicators
Insufficient
Indicator Improving Declining Neutral Data
Volume of Solid Waste X
Solid Waste Diversion X
Sustainability Scholarships Awarded X
Comparison to Peer Cities X
% of Forest Canopy X
% of Native Plantings X
Average Vehicle Ridership X
Adherence to EPP Policies X
Well Day Participation X

17. Community-Wide Stewardship
• Fort Collin’s greenhouse gas emissions are now
11% lower than they were in 2005, despite a
population increase growth of 13%.
• Core community emissions (electricity, natural gas
and vehicle travel) dropped by 5%.
• And during 2010, Fort Collins was ranked 4th Best
Place for Businesses (Forbes, April, 2010) and 6th
Best Place to Live in the Nation (Money, July
2010), confirming that carbon reductions and high
quality of life can, and do, go hand in hand.

18. Opportunities
• Wind Program
• Home Audits
• Appliance Rebates
• Sustainability Scholarships
• Mindful Movies
• In-house Training
• Sprinkler Audits
• Fleet Vehicles
THANKS ------------