Sustainability Plan

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Consultation has concluded

WHY A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN?

The City developed its first Sustainability Plan. The Sustainability Plan serves as a guide for City of Lafayette leadership, residents and businesses on sustainability practices, to improve the quality of life, promote good stewardship of the environment, and promote sound long-term financial management.

The Sustainability Plan contains goals, strategies, specific actions, and measurable targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and green and healthy buildings. Common themes across these topics are outreach and education and equity and inclusion.

While sustainability encompasses a broad range of topics, the city has chosen to focus its efforts and investment on a select few rather than dilute its resources on many. Further, this plan is aligned with other city planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, and the Preservation Master Plan without duplicating efforts and topic areas.

WHY A SUSTAINABILITY PLAN?

The City developed its first Sustainability Plan. The Sustainability Plan serves as a guide for City of Lafayette leadership, residents and businesses on sustainability practices, to improve the quality of life, promote good stewardship of the environment, and promote sound long-term financial management.

The Sustainability Plan contains goals, strategies, specific actions, and measurable targets on energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and green and healthy buildings. Common themes across these topics are outreach and education and equity and inclusion.

While sustainability encompasses a broad range of topics, the city has chosen to focus its efforts and investment on a select few rather than dilute its resources on many. Further, this plan is aligned with other city planning efforts, including the Comprehensive Plan, Parks, Recreation, Open Space (PROS) Master Plan, and the Preservation Master Plan without duplicating efforts and topic areas.

Tell your story

The City of Lafayette is developing its first Sustainability Plan. The Plan will guide the community's efforts around sustainability. As an early step, we would like to hear what our residents are doing in this area.

Please share your story that answers the questions below, and include a photo or video if it helps tell your story!

"What have you done in the past year to become more sustainable? What do you hope to do in the future?"

Thank you for sharing your sustainability story! We hope you will continue to follow the progress of the City's Sustainability Plan and provide more feedback.

Please also join us for our first Sustainability Plan Community Meeting, December 4, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in Council Chambers.

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

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    Alternative Transportation

    by vkurzban, over 4 years ago

    I am spending as little time in my car as possible. I bike to all of my local errands, even in bad weather, but need to take care since traffic is challenging in Lafayette and drivers are not used to seeing commuter bikes!

    I would like to bus into Boulder more often, but find it challenging. I usually don't go during rush hours when buses are more frequent. I would prefer to take my bike on the bus so I can bike around in Boulder, but there are only two spots for bikes on the bus leading to the possibility... Continue reading

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    Sustainability in my home

    by Becky O'Brien, over 4 years ago

    In the past year, to be more sustainable I have been volunteering as a member of the City's Waste Reduction Advisory Committee and in that role I have supported our efforts to have some of the City's events be zero waste. I have also coordinated a food rescue program where 150-400 packaged food items are collected every week from two Lafayette Starbucks and donated to low-income members of our community. Food waste is a top contributor to climate change, so keeping this methane-generating stuff out of our landfills is really helpful.

    In my home we continue to be enthusiastic users... Continue reading

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    EnergySmart Home Energy Assessment + Xcel WindSource + Waste Reduction

    by MattSaysThat, over 4 years ago

    As a resident and small business owner in Lafayette, our family's effort to become more sustainable is an ongoing process, but also an area of great pride. We know there's always more we could do, but by sharing our successes and challenges, we've found we can engage others in the conversation and help improve our collective thinking and development of creative solutions. Here are some of the areas we're most excited about from the last year and where we hope to go next:

    Home Sustainability

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    Apartment Sustainability

    by sarchie, over 4 years ago

    By living in an apartment, there are a lot of decisions that are made for me with my living situation. There are some small ways that I've been able to influence my sustainability impact.

    I have an account with Arcadia Power which allows me to power my living with sustainable wind power. I pay my power bill through them and they pay Xcel Energy. For the energy that I use, Arcadia sends that same amount of clean energy into the Xcel grid of where I live.

    My apartment complex does not offer compost collection, so I collect compost myself and... Continue reading

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    Home Improvements + Reduced Waste

    by dawnus339, over 4 years ago

    We've slowly been addressing the energy efficiency items in our 1970's home over the past few years. We first had an energy audit performed through Xcel to see what area we should concentrate on first. When then insulated the attic and basement. This fall we finally moved forward with replacing the original furnace and getting an updated programmable thermostat. We plan to take advantage of the Xcel rebate for the furnace as well.

    We also decided to reduce our waste bin size which saves us about $10/month. Now I am also even more conscious of making sure I don't bring... Continue reading

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    Attic insulation & solar

    by Knudah, over 4 years ago

    So we finally bit the bullet and got our solar system installed in time to take advantage of the full federal solar tax credit. As a bit of energy nerd I'm looking forward to getting the data from this system.

    We also did the energy audit and got rebates for a new AC and attic insulation and sealing. I have seen a noticable difference in our heating bills pre and post although our summer energy use has still been fairly steady. When our gas furnace goes I'm just going to go for the heat pump. The technologies have come a... Continue reading

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    A sustainable shared workspace in downtown Lafayette

    by tomhardie, over 4 years ago

    As Co-Founder and Owner of the Confluence Small Business Collective, I've worked hard to walk the walk in terms of setting a good example for commercial best practices in sustainability. Guided by a green mission, Confluence has voluntarily invested in high-efficiency HVAC and lighting equipment, recycling and composting services, reclaimed beetle-kill pine decor, and solar energy.

    With the support of city, county, and state grants, Confluence has become a leader in promoting alternative transportation. In December of 2018, Confluence installed a dual-port EV charging station for use by the general public. In May of 2019, Confluence installed new bike parking... Continue reading