Local Community

The Colorado Energy Office (CEO) has long-standing relationships with Colorado communities.  Our structure, since 2007, has been to promote energy conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy deployment at the community level.  Through the years, universities and colleges, city and county leaders, sustainability coordinators and energy managers, and local non-profit organizations have stepped forward to champion community clean energy efforts.  The value of energy efficiency is universally recognized as the easiest and most cost-effective way to help consumers save energy and money – especially at the time of construction.  Local jurisdictions have the ability to implement buildings codes – the mandate or “the stick”.  More than 10 years ago, the City of Aspen and Pitkin County launched the Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP).  Designed to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, REMP requires new homes to mitigate their environmental impacts through building codes which require a strict “energy budget.”  Homeowners who wish to consume additional energy for snowmelt or outdoor pools or spas have the option of installing a renewable energy system onsite or paying a renewable energy mitigation fee instead. REMP has raised nearly $8 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.