Why is This Important?

Greenhouse gas emissions trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change, which increases extreme weather, raises energy and maintenance costs, and puts added stress on buildings, infrastructure, and County services. Tracking emissions helps identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support more resilient County operations.

What Does It Mean?

County facility greenhouse gas emissions have steadily decreased since 2017. This trend reflects sustained investments and operational changes in County facilities, including the transition to LED lighting, improved scheduling and controls that reduce energy use when buildings are unoccupied, and the replacement of aging heating and cooling systems with newer, more efficient equipment.

Greenhouse gas emissions across County facilities have reduced 38% since 2017. This reduction is equivalent to the average energy use of 655 homes for 1 year or 1,137 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year.

More information regarding Arapahoe County utility use can be found by clicking here for access to the County's Open Data Hub. 

Definition

County Facility Greenhouse Gas Emissions are the estimated total annual emissions, expressed in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO₂e), generated from energy use in County-owned and operated buildings and facilities.

Scope 1 emissions refer to the greenhouse gases Arapahoe County produces directly. This would include fuel used by our owned facilities. At this time, Arapahoe County does not track fuel used by owned vehicles and equipment.

Scope 2 emissions refer to the greenhouse gases created somewhere else to make the energy you use. For example, when you buy electricity, steam, heat, or cooling, the power plant producing that energy emits greenhouse gases. Even though those emissions happen off-site, they’re included in your footprint because they result from your energy consumption.