Please send suggestions for additional resources to sustainability@congressparkneighbors.org

Reduce Home Carbon Use

Home Energy Savings

• The Denver Energy Challenge is a citywide effort to reduce energy use in individual homes. Learn about easy behavior changes, best practices, energy audits, DIY projects, and other ways to reduce home energy.

Solar Energy

• The City of Denver Project Guide for Solar Panels provides you with an overview of the permitting process for installing solar panels, battery storage systems, or other elements related to a solar panel system.

• Xcel Energy – Learn about different solar options available through Xcel Energy.
• Dr. Larry Grimm’s Solar Interviews – As Part of an online workshop series, Congress Park sustainable neighbor Dr. Larry Grimm has interviewed professionals from two solar providers, Golden Solar and Sunrun.
• Financing your solar installation – Consumer Affairs information on loans and financing options for home solar.

Waste Diversion & Reduction

Recycling

Denver’s residential waste diversion rate (which combines recycling and composting) is about 23% which is far below the national average of 34%. Longmont has the highest rate in Colorado at 60%. Do your part to improve recycling rates in our community by visiting Denver Recycling Services for more information and play a fun recycling game.

Composting

• Currently, over 50% of what goes in the Denver landfill is yard and food waste. Visit the City of Denver’s composting page to learn about compost collection or sign up for classes on how to compost. You can also call 311 to get your green compost cart at a rate of $9.75 per month.
• Denver Urban Gardens also offers composting workshops.

Alley Cleanup

• Troubled by the trash in your alley? Here’s how you can organize a successful alley cleanup: Ten Step Checklist for a Successful Alley Cleanup Event.

• Keep Denver Beautiful – through Keep Denver Beautiful you can register your cleanup project with the city and get bags, tools, and help disposing of waste.

Water Conservation

Leaks

• There’s a good chance you’re wasting water and don’t even know it. Learn to identify and prevent leaks.

Rebates & Efficiency Tips

• This Denver Water page has water-use tips and efficiency rebates.

Watersense Products

• WaterSense products include bathroom sink faucets, high-efficiency toilets, high-efficiency shower heads, pre-rinse spray valves, landscape irrigation services and weather-based irrigation controllers.

Gardening

• Be sure and check out Denver Water’s Water Wise Landscape Handbook.
• Denver Water also has a page dedicated to xeriscaping. Denver Water’s xeriscaping resource page has info on how to grow a garden well-suited to Colorado’s climate.

Find local community gardens:

• Denver Urban Gardens – map of community gardens around Denver
• Colorado Gardening – resources, toolkits, how-tos, plant societies, and more.
• CSU Extension Gardening – gardening resources from CSU

Increase Use of Alternative Transportation

Sustainable Transportation

• Avoid driving in traffic by using the RTD Trip Planner to get around town without a car. Bonus: instead of hunting for parking you can enjoy a short walk on either end of the trip!

• Heading downtown? The #10 bus travels the length of Congress Park along 12th and will take you to Civic Center, Union Station, Elitch Gardens, and more.
• Need to get to the airport? Take the #24 bus from 12th and York to the 40th and Colorado Station, then jump on the A-Line.

Bike Resources

• Check out Bike Denver to learn how to navigate the the city by bike using the Urban Bike Map, or sign up for an urban cycling course and improve your cycling safety and etiquette!
• There’s also great local bike repair stores like Velowood Cyclery by Tattered Cover, or a little farther (good destination for a Sunday cycle) Denver Bike Cafe.

General Information on Neighborhood Sustainability Initiatives

Read how Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church became a greener congregation: The Greening of Capitol Heights Presbyterian Church. Great ideas for implementing at any community org!

Green Businesses – Get local businesses involved in sustainability! Know a local coffee shop that could be composting? Certifiably Green Denver offers free sustainability advising services to Denver’s business community.

Denver’s Sustainable Neighborhood Program – The Sustainable Neighborhoods Program program supports Denver neighborhoods in deepening their sustainability efforts, while getting support and recognition from the City.

• Congress Park Neighbors Sustainable Neighborhood Program – upcoming events in Congress Park and info on local projects.
• Sustainable Neighborhood Projects and Resources for Neighborhoods – Toolkit with resources and suggested projects in five categories: energy, air, land, water, and people.

Congress Park Trees – Hug a tree, or better yet, plant a new one! Get to know the local canopy and care for existing trees.

• The Park People offer free trees through the Denver Digs Trees Program, Community Forester Training, and other volunteer opportunities

• Interactive Tree Inventory – ever wonder how many trees there are in Congress Park? This tool will show you detailed inventory of the neighborhood forest!

• Denver Forestry Office – has recommended tree lists, arboreal inspector contact, info on the Emerald Ash Borer, and more.

Community Supported Agriculture – the freshest produce from the farms closest to your door.

Denver Botanic Gardens CSA – grown at Chatfield, easy local pick-up at Botanic Gardens.

Monroe Organic Farms – the oldest organic farm in Colorado.

Garden Foodshare – have extra produce from your garden? Consider sharing with those in need through MetroCaring.