Page 23 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2021

Sprawl resistant. Boulder has
several ways to preserve the area’s
natural beauty, including a “Blue
Line” ordinance that prohibits water
service to properties above a SUSTAINABLE CITIES
certain elevation. CREDIT: OWEN ALLEN/FLICKR
OF THE YEAR 2021

energy, cutting city operations greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
by 80 percent, and upping local renewable power generation by
100 megawatts (MW). And, carbon emissions are to be cut by
80 percent by 2050.
Progress is promising, according to city officials. About 54MW of
the 100-MW new green energy goal has been met in just two years,
as has slightly more than one quarter of the planned GHG reduction.
Boulder is also 40 percent of the way toward its government
emissions cutback.
Of course, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Boulder has a
history of efforts that promote a green lifestyle, such as establishing a Recycled power. Boulder’s cogeneration facility uses gas byproducts to produce
“Blue Line” designed to prevent development on the city’s mountain clean electricity and heat. CREDIT: CITY OF BOULDER
backdrop (by prohibiting water service to any property above a and location of billboards, designed to preserve natural beauty in
certain elevation); a new home construction limit of less than one and around Boulder; and a building heights charter that limited new
percent annually; a sign code that restricts the use of size, height construction size to no more than 35 feet tall. GB

Two-wheeled rule. Bikes are a world unto
themselves in Boulder, being given their own
traffic lanes, trails and maintenance sites.
COURTESY OF CITY OF BOULDER

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