Understanding Salida’s Community Emissions
The City of Salida, in partnership with Chaffee County, recently completed the 2024 Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report. The report was prepared by Lotus Engineering and Sustainability and funded through the Colorado Energy Office’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant. Find the live dashboard with drilldown options for each sector here.
This inventory gives Salida its first comprehensive, data-driven look at community-wide greenhouse gas emissions. It evaluates emissions across major sectors, including transportation, buildings, and waste, and establishes a baseline to help guide future policy decisions and investments.
Why This Work Matters
The greenhouse gas inventory directly supports implementation of the City of Salida’s Climate Action Plan by identifying where emissions are most concentrated and where targeted action can have the greatest impact.
The report finds that Salida’s emissions profile is largely driven by transportation and building energy use. Total community emissions are estimated at approximately 79,864 metric tons of CO₂e, representing about 27 percent of countywide emissions.
Vehicle-related emissions are primarily connected to gasoline and diesel use, while building-related emissions are largely tied to electricity consumption and natural gas used for heating and cooling.
Key Areas of Focus
The inventory reinforces that the most effective strategies for reducing emissions align closely with priorities already identified in Salida’s Climate Action Plan.
Transportation
Reducing transportation emissions will require a combination of strategies, including electrifying municipal and community fleets, continuing investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, expanding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and exploring regional shuttle or transit options that can help reduce vehicle miles traveled, especially during peak tourism seasons.
Buildings and Energy Use
Improving building energy efficiency remains another important area of focus. The report emphasizes the importance of expanding local energy efficiency programs, promoting efficient heating and cooling systems, and reducing overall energy demand.
Building Long-Term Community Resilience
The inventory also highlights the importance of long-term greenhouse gas reduction planning as part of Salida’s broader approach to community resilience. As mountain communities experience increasingly unpredictable climate conditions, including greater variability in weather, wildfire risk, and resource availability, having a clear emissions baseline and coordinated reduction roadmap is essential.
This type of planning helps the City prioritize investments, guide future policy discussions, and prepare for environmental and economic shifts while maintaining Salida’s quality of life.