The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) this week recognized 168 companies for outstanding environmental achievements that help keep Colorado a desirable place to work and live. The department, in partnership with the Pollution Prevention Advisory Board and the Colorado Environmental Partnership, awarded Colorado organizations with 24-karat gold, gold, silver, and bronze designations for voluntarily going beyond compliance with state and federal regulations.
“We are proud to recognize all of Colorado’s environmental leaders and work with them to reduce barriers to innovation while protecting public health and the environment,” said Karin McGowan, the department’s interim executive director.
CDPHE presented Aspen Skiing Company with its premier recognition, the 2018 24-Karat Gold Award, for reducing use of coal-fired energy and increasing use of clean alternative energy sources. For more than a decade, the company has been a leader in efforts to operate in an environmentally friendly manner. The company has spent millions of dollars on energy efficency, including lighting, boilers, green buildings, and controls. It has installed a 115-kW micro-hydro system generating power from spring runoff, 170 kW of solar photovoltaics, and a 3-MW methane capture system at the Elk Creek mine.
The awards program is open to Colorado businesses, industries, offices, educational institutions, municipalities, government agencies, communities, nonprofits, and other organizations. For more information, visit the department’s Environmental Leadership Program website.
