Reported by CEN Staff

ASPEN — The Aspen City Council voted earlier this week to expand its Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP) to apply to commercial buildings. What’s more, the city became the first in the state to adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which enables private-sector applicants in the city to apply for federal funds, tax credits and state assistance to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.

In 2000, Aspen adopted the world’s first mandatory program to levy a charge on excess energy use in residences. The program has the goal of keeping 3 tons of carbon out of the air for every ton of excess carbon emitted from some homes in Aspen.

The upshot is that residential homes with such amenities as outdoor pools, spas and snowmelt surfaces have to offset their additional energy use either by installing on-site renewable energy systems or exercising the REMP payment option - with funds used for installations of renewable energy assets elsewhere. 

Chief Building Official Stephen Kanipe has been working on a commercial version of REMP that mirrors the residential requirements since the City Council asked him to move forward on the plan last July. Kanipe said several local developers he met with indicated they would seriously consider installing PV systems if the on-site renewable credits were adjusted.

To be sure, various government rebates and tax credits are significantly reducing the cost of photovoltaic systems by roughly 40 percent. Aspen is hoping that its share of the funds from the ARRA will eventually result in major improvements in energy efficiency of commercial buildings in the downtown core. The Governor’s Energy Office estimates that some $33 million will flow through the state to cities and counties in Colorado via the ARRA.

As president of the Colorado Chapter of the International Code Council, Kanipe has been proactive in meeting with the GEO to help the state qualify for the federal funding.