CAP IMPACT ACTION - Avoiding fossil fuel-based outdoor snowmelt
The climate consequences of fossil fuel-based snowmelt systems are known: allowing them to be installed without restriction will increase emissions in unregulated ways and tie the community to increased emissions for decades to come.
Members of the CAP Energy Working Group agree, and it is why they recommend including language to 'minimize outdoor energy use unless it is provided by a low/no-carbon energy source or offset by 100% renewable energy' in the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) updates currently being discussed at the County, City and municipality level. As a process, the County Building Department proposes code updates every three years based on the IBC and can include local code recommendations beyond the IBC, like snowmelt, which municipalities choose to adopt, modify or reject.
Arguments for reducing fossil-fuel based outdoor snowmelt extend beyond the climate benefits. In a recent Steamboat Pilot article, local green building and energy experts laid out the economic costs and arguments for why outdoor snowmelt can and should be limited:
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100 square feet of outside patio is the equivalent of heating 1,000 square feet indoors. Depending on the size of the house, it likely costs more and uses more energy for outdoor snowmelt than heating the home itself.
- In the past, the costs of natural gas vs. electric systems have been disputed. The technology exists today to use electricity to melt snow at the same or lower operating cost than using natural gas.
- There are alternative non-fossil fuel-based energy options for snowmelt systems. Biomass and biofuel boilers, electric resistant boilers, solar thermal systems and heat pump systems are all no/low carbon snowmelt options.
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Better home and design construction can eliminate the need for snowmelt - Roof design that diverts snow and water away from the entry way and garage doors. Home orientation for optimal solar exposure. Well drained driveways and covered porches and patios.
|  | The roof on this Steamboat Springs home is designed to divert snow and water away from the entry way and garage doors. Courtesy: Brian Adams/APEX Architecture. | |
Getting to Know the Collaborative - Tim Wohlgenant
Tim Wohlgenant, Collaborative Board member, has spent the majority of his career in the service of land conservation, urban development, and natural resource problem solving. Currently, he is the Executive Director of the Yampa Valley Community Foundation (YVCF) and was instrumental in establishing the Routt County Climate Action Collaborative Fund. Not only has he been a valuable community member of the Collaborative Board, but he is also an active member of the CAP Land Use Working Group.
We thank him for the many hours he has volunteered furthering the implementation of the Climate Action Plan, and for taking time to share his thoughts on why the CAP matters (to him and to you!) and why is he hopeful we can address the daunting challenge of climate change.
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Each month we highlight a climate win/news item and action you can take across the CAP's five sectors. Celebrating our successes and steps taken will help us move the CAP forward together as a community. If you have a climate win or action you would like to share, please email [email protected]. | |
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Climate News
ROUTT COUNTY COMPLETES FACILITIES ENERGY USE ASSESSMENT
Recognizing the important role Routt County can play in reaching our CAP greenhouse gas reduction goals, the County contracted a technical consulting firm to investigate energy usage in eight County buildings. The group found that the County buildings have enough roof area to offset almost all of their electrical consumption with solar. The transition would significantly reduce the County's carbon footprint.
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CITY OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS RECEIVES GRANT FOR ENERGY AUDIT, FEASIBILITY STUDY
The City of Steamboat Springs received a grant from the CO Department of Local Affairs to conduct an energy audit and feasibility study of city buildings. The study will help determine which buildings would be appropriate for solar and which for electrification. It will cover 26 different city-owned buildings covering 265,000 square feet. The CO Energy Office is set to collaborate with the City when the study is complete.
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Leading By Example
BENEFICIAL ELECTRIFICATION SUCCESS: TOWN OF YAMPA INSTALLS ELECTRIC HEATER
In a show of support for the Climate Action Plan, the Town of Yampa opted to replace the coal furnace in the Town Shop with an electric heater.
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"I know my Public Works Department is elated as it will be cleaner and easier to maintain," Town Clerk and CAP Board member Sheila Symons said. "The Town feels we are making strides in awareness of the CAP initiative."
The Town of Yampa hopes to replace the coal boiler in the Town Hall with an electric heater within the year.
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Action You Can Take
ROUTT COUNTY PLANNING WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU
Routt County is updating its Zoning Code and Subdivision Regulations. There is still time to review and provide feedback on the first module. Module One covers important areas like Renewable Energy and Code Introduction. Your input is crucial to ensure the new regulations align with community needs and CAP Energy Recommendations.
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Climate News
IT'S TIME TO INVEST MORE IN OUR NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Several CAP Land Use recommendations include actions related to natural infrastructure such as increasing urban and riparian tree cover, protecting wetlands and restoring headwaters forests and wet meadows to protect water supplies. These investments can be cheaper than traditional grey infrastructure (e.g., dams, seawalls, water treatment plants) and provide multiple co-benefits, including helping to sequester carbon in vegetation and soils.
The City of Steamboat Springs has been supporting an important green infrastructure project since 2019 in the Yampa River Forest Restoration Project. The project grew out of the city’s Stream Management Plan for the Yampa, which identified increasing riparian tree cover along the river as a key strategy for reducing water temperatures. Riparian trees also provide additional benefits at the same time, such as flood mitigation, improved wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.
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Action You Can Take
PARTICIPATE IN THE 14th ANNUAL RETREE PLANTING
Ready to make a hands on investment in natural infrastructure? Join the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) and community volunteers of all ages to plant trees along the Yampa River.
Over the past 13 years, YVSC has planted over 24,000 trees in the Yampa Valley.
Date: October 7, 2023
Location: Carpenter Ranch
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
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SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION - FOREST AND WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM
The Colorado State Forest Service is still accepting applications for the Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation Grant Program. Eligible applicants include community groups, homeowner associations, utilities, and non-profit organizations. The grant program supports projects aimed at strategically reducing wildfire risk to property, infrastructure, and water supplies while fostering forest health through scientifically backed forestry practices. Applications are accepted until October 18, 2023, with assistance available from local CSFS Field Offices.
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Volunteers of all ages participate in past ReTree event along the Yampa River. | |
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Climate News
POTENTIAL FOR PASSENGER RAIL STILL CHUGGING
State and local officials, along with representatives from Steamboat Ski and Resort Corp., are continuing conversations about the development of a passenger train line that would run through the Yampa Valley. If the project comes to fruition, it could significantly reduce regional vehicle miles traveled. Currently, about 3,000 cars make daily trips into Steamboat from Craig.
Representative Meghan Lukens and Senator Dylan Roberts wrote a letter to CDOT asking the department to start the process of planning for potential funding sources and a development plan for the service. Denver, Craig, Yampa Valley Regional Airport and Steamboat are all locations the rail could service if the plan moves forward.
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Climate Win
ROUTT COUNTY RIDERS MATCH CLOSE TO 150 BIKES
This year Routt County Riders (RCR) has a matched 146 bikes with new owners as part of its Bike Match Program. This includes 40 e-bikes to income qualified residents in Routt and Moffat Counties. With four pending matches on the calendar this week, that would bring the program up to 150 bikes matched!
This summer RCR acquired a new warehouse where they can repair their stockpile of broken bikes and continue to fulfill outstanding requests. The warehouse also houses around 60 bikes used by the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) for winter storage as part of their partnership with the BGC.
The BGC bike program has been a great success. The bike fleet enabled 2,300 round trip rides for BGC activities in the community and was supported by a BGC summer intern trained by RCR mechanics to keep the fleet in operation. RCR also built bike ramps and other obstacles for kids to ride their bikes and practice their riding skills.
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Action You Can Take
RTA INPUT STILL NEEDED
Routt County, the City of Steamboat Springs and the City of Craig are collaboratively examining the potential advantages of establishing a Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for the Yampa Valley. Once voter endorsed and supported by at least two governmental entities, a RTA has the authority to design, fund, execute, and manage a regional transportation system encompassing transit, cycling, walking, roads, air travel and railways.
Learn more about how a RTA can help you and grow regional transportation services. Share your RTA transportation priorities by completing the RTA survey.
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TEST DRIVE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE
As part of the City's efforts to implement its EV Readiness Plan, the City is collaborating with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council to host a series of EV events this October.
EV Ride and Drive
Date: Sunday, October 8 (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Location: Howelsen Hill
Register here
EV Converted Shuttle Ride and Drive
Date: Tuesday, October 10 (10 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
Location: Howelsen Hill
LEARN ABOUT WORKPLACE CHARGING
EV Charger Workshop for Business, Workplace, and Multifamily Applications
Date: Monday, October 23 (12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Location: Centennial Hall
Can't make the workshop or interested in learning about workplace EV charging sooner? Contact Paul Bony ([email protected]) to sign up for an EV workplace charging on-site visit.
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Recipients of Routt County Rider's Bike Match Program. Courtesy: Routt County Riders. | |
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Climate News
REMEMBER YOUR BAGS
It's time to start honing in your reusable bag routine when shopping. Starting January 1, 2024, all single use plastic bags will be banned in the state of Colorado, with the exception of at small businesses and restaurants. The use of plastic bags has been prohibited in Steamboat Springs for most retailers since 2022, with a $0.20 fee charged for paper bags.
Come January, shoppers will notice an absence of plastic bags and a $0.10 bag fee for paper outside of Steamboat city limits as well. To date, the City of Steamboat Springs bag fee has raised an average of $130,000 per year, which is used to help fund recycling outreach initiatives, such as the Yampa Valley Recycles Depot and a community recycling coordinator employee at the City.
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Action You Can Take
DROP OFF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE
The Routt County Department of Environmental Health is hosting its annual household hazardous waste drop off event in October. Please note there will be a cost associated with discarding materials.
Date: Saturday, October 7 (8 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Location: Steamboat Middle School
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BECOME A RECYCLING AMBASSADOR
The City of Steamboat Springs is seeking volunteers who are interested in coordinating with their neighbors to improve recycling in their community. Contact Alicia Archibald with any questions.
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Dakota Dolan, a zero waste champion, supporting proper waste and recycling efforts at Steamboat Springs Farmers Market. | |
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Climate News
BETTER SOIL HEALTH EDUCATION SUPPORTS RESILIENCY AND LOCAL PRODUCERS
Routt County Conservation District organized a free workshop in which landowners learned the importance of soil health in growing crops. The workshop both supported a recommendation to come out of the Land Use Working Group to implement climate-smart agriculture practices while also providing technical assistance to support local producers.
Five Routt County landowners are participating in the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Saving Tomorrow's Agricultural Resources (STAR) program, which connects ranchers with conservation experts to develop better soil health practices. Healthier soils support future profitable agricultural productivity and build drought resiliency.
The Conservation District also released a Toolkit for Building Drought, Wildfire and Soil Health Resiliency, which is available at RouttCountyCD.com.
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Action You Can Take
APPLY FOR CITY OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUNDING
The deadline to apply for community support funding from the City of Steamboat Springs is approaching. Each year, the City offers money to projects and groups that fall under that categories of Environment, Arts & Culture and Human Resources. The City has provided over $5 million over the past decade through the program.
The deadline for Environmental applications is Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m.
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VOLUNTARILY MITIGATE YOUR AIR TRAVEL EMISSIONS
Yampa Valley Regional Airport (YVRA) and the Routt County Climate Action Plan Fund have teamed up with The Good Traveler program to enable residents and visitors to voluntarily mitigate their air travel emissions to and from YVRA via mileage-based donations.
These contributions support LOCAL climate projects through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, spanning habitat restoration, waste reduction, renewable energy adoption and climate-friendly transport.
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Agricultural consultant Eric Fuchs helps lead a workshop on soil health with seasoned Routt County ranchers and new landowners during the Soil Health Field Day on August 15, 2023.
Courtesy: Suzie Romig/Steamboat Pilot & Today
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