Summary

• EPEAT and ICLEI’s ClearPath are utilized by the City of Durango to achieve sustainability goals set forth in a Municipal Sustainability Action Plan
• Durango’s EPEAT-Registered IT product purchases have resulted in quantifiable environmental benefits, significant cost savings and public recognition
• ClearPath, an ICLEI USA tool, enables Durango to develop GHG inventories, forecast emissions growth and reduction scenarios, visualize climate action plans, and track progress on meeting emissions management goals

Introduction

Durango is a small city of 18,500 residents in southwestern Colorado. The local government is candid about their commitment to sustainability and is “dedicated to promoting a sustainable economic viability while responsibly stewarding [the] community’s resources.”Approximately 96% of U.S. cities, towns and villages have 25,000 residents or fewer. This case study demonstrates the positive impact a single locality can make by identifying and pursuing sustainability goals.3

To track and measure progress toward these goals, Durango uses EPEAT, the leading global ecolabel for the IT sector, and ICLEI ClearPath, the leading online software platform for completing greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, forecasts, climate action plans and emissions monitoring.

Durango (“the City”) is committed to improving the quality of life of its residents by systematically, creatively, and thoughtfully utilizing environmental, human and economic resources in a manner that maintains the unique character of the community for the benefit of present and future generations. Durango’s Municipal Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) was designed to support this commitment.

The SAP was formally adopted in 2015, and it defines Durango’s sustainability objectives including monitoring and reducing GHG emissions generated by municipal operations. Because energy use impacts GHG emissions generation, targets for energy consumption were established, including:

• Increased renewable energy generation
• Decreased municipal fleet emissions
• 25% overall reduction in energy use from 2005 levels by 2025

The SAP also requires the City to consider total cost of ownership in product purchases. In addition, minimum sustainability criteria for certain products were established by the City’s Purchasing Division. Examples of criteria include mandating EPEAT for IT products and requiring a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content for all paper products.