Sustainability Current Projects

We are always working on new and ongoing projects to make Lakewood healthier, safer, and greener for future generations. Click on any of the projects below to learn more about our current sustainability projects.

Community Sustainability Update to City Councila walking path with grass on both sides and a blue sky above with a few clouds

See a video of the Sustainability Division 2024 Update for City Council. The video highlights and provides up-to-date details on all of our current projects.

Video

 

 

Sustainable Development Standards row of townhomes with green grass in front

  • In 2022, City Council adopted standards to help implement the community’s vision for sustainability through new development projects.
  • These Sustainable Development Standards include an Enhanced Development Menu of sustainable site design features, a Greenhouse Gas Performance Standard to mitigate emissions from new buildings, and Construction & Demolition Waste Recycling to divert used building materials from landfills.
  • This is an ongoing project dependent on staff review of development proposals and permits submitted to the City.

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Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Diversion and Recycling

Bulldozer tearing house down

  • Lakewood has required the recycling of concrete, asphalt, metal, wood, cardboard, and other reusable materials since 2018.
  • To increase diversion of these readily recyclable materials, our staff are working to update the C&D program with new informational handouts, a streamlined development application process, and a performance deposit and refund system for new projects.

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Climate Vulnerability Assessment

Person holding up sign that says There is No Planet B

  • In 2023, Lakewood was awarded a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant to assess the impacts of anticipated climate change on the city’s natural hazards, with particular attention to the inequitable distribution of these impacts on socially vulnerable populations.
  • With the help of a consultant, this project will analyze various climate scenarios and their effect on hazards like flooding and extreme temperatures, as well as engage with community members to learn about their experiences with climate change.
  • The findings of the study will help inform the city’s Comprehensive Plan update and the next Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

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Comprehensive Plan Updatedecorative logo

  • Lakewood is embarking on an exciting process to update the city’s Comprehensive Plan, which is an important document and tool to guide long-range growth and development in the city.
  • The plan is used by staff, City Council, Planning Commission, and other boards and commissions to inform decision-making on land use, transportation, sustainability, housing, infrastructure development, and more.
  • Sign up to receive updates.

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Electric Vehicle Work PlanElectric Vehicle plugged in to charging station

The City partnered with Xcel Energy to develop and implement an Electric Vehicle Work Plan that will help Lakewood prepare for the EV future and move us closer to our community and organizational goals. The EV Action Plan was developed collaboratively across all departments and focuses on municipal fleet electrification, public facility charging infrastructure, and integrating EVs into city plans and policies. 

Read the Plan(PDF, 2MB)

 

Energy Benchmarking and Building Performance StandardsRoof of a house with mountains in the distance during sunset

Buildings are the largest contributor of GHG emissions in Lakewood because of the energy required to operate their systems, like lighting and HVAC. City staff is developing recommendations, for City Council’s consideration, for a performance program for Lakewood’s largest buildings as part of an overall building emissions reduction strategy. The first phase of the project is to design a benchmarking policy that would require commercial, multifamily, and public building owners to track and report their energy use (electricity and natural gas) on an annual basis.

The second phase of the program would be to establish building performance standards to support increased efficiency and the transition to cleaner energy sources. To read more about the project and get involved, visit the project page.

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Water Conservation Program and Incentivestwo story grey house with two car garage

Save water and money with the city’s Outdoor Water Conservation Program! Several incentives are available to help reduce water use and transform your yard into a beautiful and vibrant Colorado landscape. Staff are also creating educational resources with outdoor water conservation strategies for single-family households, as well as a toolkit to help HOAs save water and money on water bills. 

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Municipal Renewable Energy Procurementdecorative logo

Each year, the city uses more than 2 million kWh of solar energy to power its facilities and operations, reducing emissions by over 2 million pounds of CO2. The City participates in off-site solar garden programs and is currently evaluating on-site solar options at our local facilities. 

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Regional Climate Pollution and Reduction Grantdecorative logo

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act created the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) to help with regional-scale climate action planning. The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood Metropolitan Statistical Area has received a $1 million CPRG grant to develop climate action plans in coordination with stakeholders throughout the region. The project is being led by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) with our division providing direct support as part of the project management team.   

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