Why Building Change Matters

Climate change may be the single greatest public threat of our time. Effectively and rapidly addressing the risks of climate change may be humanity’s biggest challenge but the potential solutions also present tremendous opportunities. We encourage Colorado to lead and act immediately to protect our people, environment, and financial wellbeing.

The built environment is not only a large contributor to climate change but also a huge opportunity to mitigate and plan for impacts. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the built environment is frequently accompanied by benefits such as more valuable building assets, more durable and flexible infrastructure, healthier indoor air quality, and more comfortable and resilient spaces. Investing in buildings also touches people directly by demonstrating action and potentially spurring additional investment and behavior change. This handbook provides solutions as to how Colorado’s buildings can achieve a cleaner commercial, residential, and industrial building stock through less carbon utilization.

Colorado’s recently enacted clean energy legislation builds on the state’s progress to transition to renewable energy to power buildings. Constructing more efficient buildings with increased reliance on renewable electricity (rather than natural gas) will reduce pollution from Colorado’s building sector and support the health and comfort of Colorado residents. Specifically, Colorado has set goals to reduce 50% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and 90% by 2050, relative to 2005 emissions levels. Many owners are installing solar panels, shifting their fuel mix right at their building. By transitioning our building sector to embrace cost-effective efficiency technologies that are available today, we can restore clean air to the Front Range. These technologies also make for healthier, safer, and lower operating cost buildings for Coloradans.

The Colorado Forum and The Nature Conservancy created a collaborative venture called the Healthy Colorado Initiative to accelerate the necessary transition towards a low carbon future. To reach goals set by the State, Coloradans must immediately focus on decarbonizing buildings. Whether you are planning a new building, a major renovation, a home remodel, or simply looking for simple, everyday practices that improve building efficiency, this handbook provides a wide range of suggestions for property owners to substantially reduce building sector pollution, save money, and lower Colorado’s greenhouse gas emissions.