Sustainable Grand Creates, Promotes, and Supports Initiatives that Foster an Environmentally-Friendly Community and Sustainable Future in Grand County
Grand County's natural beauty is evident to anyone who has the privilege of living in or visiting our mountain community. Jaw-dropping views of the Continental Divide, Indian Peaks, Byers Peak, Winter Park Resort, and Rocky Mountain National Park surround us. The state's largest natural lake, Grand Lake, along with a wealth of other lakes, rivers, and creeks make up a large part of our landscape. The Arapaho National Forest, Indian Peaks Wilderness, and BLM land are full of lush meadows, alpine forests thick with aspen groves, and trail systems that make it easy to explore the public lands. Whether the ground is blanketed with snow or covered in wildflowers, there's no question that the natural environment here is nothing short of spectacular.
Living in a place with such breathtaking beauty begs the question: how do we steward our resources well, take care of our environment, and protect the earth for future generations? While we can all do our part individually, having a centralized driving force to educate the community, provide support, and point us toward available resources is key. Enter: Sustainable Grand. A relatively nascent nonprofit that hit the ground running in 2022, Sustainable Grand is dedicated to promoting and providing access to tangible, practical steps that help our community meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Sustainable Grand has big goals that encompass all aspects of creating an environmentally responsible and resilient community: reducing our carbon footprint through energy efficiency measures, promoting renewable energy sources, conserving water, encouraging sustainable transportation options, supporting local food production, minimizing waste through recycling and composting, educating residents on sustainable practices, and fostering community engagement in environmental projects. They are currently focusing on energy efficiency.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
In partnership with our two local utility providers (Mountain Parks Electric and Xcel Energy) and community leaders, Sustainable Grand spearheaded the creation of an "Energy Action Plan" for Grand County. Our cold climate leads to more natural gas and electricity consumption as homes and businesses are heated through the long winter months. Fraser (the "Icebox of the Nation") averages an annual temperature of 36 degrees - so we can see why our energy consumption is so high!
Sustainable Grand helped create the Energy Action Plan (June 2024) to set goals and make plans to promote county-wide energy efficiency in both homes and businesses (read: good for the environment and your bank account!). They are dedicated to making existing and new buildings in Grand County more energy efficient, transitioning the Grand County community to clean energy, increasing the use of electric vehicles and electric outdoor equipment, building community resilience to climate change, and ensuring Grand County receives a fair share of state and federal funding available to support sustainability efforts.
As part of their energy efficiency initiative, Sustainable Grand connects homeowners with income-qualified free weatherization programs, discounted home energy audits, rebates and incentives (did you know Mountain Parks Electric will reimburse you for a percentage of your LED bulbs?!), small business energy assessments, and more. They even provide free workshops to educate the community and connect people with resources.
GET INVOLVED!
You can sign up for Sustainable Grand's newsletter to stay in the loop with events, initiatives, and eco-friendly tips. Or you can contribute financially: Sustainable Grand is a 501c3 and accepts tax-deductible donations. Hop online and contribute here!
Posted by Leah Bishop on
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