Aurora
City Scorecard Rank
30
Aurora, CO
38.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 3 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
The City of Aurora passed its Sustainability Plan in 2009.
Last updated: September 2021
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Aurora adopted a goal to reduce community-wide emissions 10% below 2007 levels by 2025. ACEEE projects the city will meet its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
Aurora hosts three community solar systems on city property. The Colorado Solar Gardens Act requires community solar projects to carve out shares for low-income subscribers.
Last updated: September 2021
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: September 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 17.5 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
The City of Aurora has local authority to adopt building energy codes. The city requires plan reviews and site inspection to ensure building energy code compliance. We could not find information on city mandated benchmarking policies, incentives, or above-code energy action requirements.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Colorado is a home rule state with a voluntary building code for both residential and commercial construction. To learn more about the building energy code requirements for the State of Colorado, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Aurora requires commercial properties comply with the 2015 IECC. The code uses a commercial zEPI score of 53.6.
Residential
Aurora requires residential properties comply with the 2015 IECC. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 54.7.
Solar--readiness policies
The city has not adopted mandatory solar-ready requirements. Aurora amended its zoning code to allow for solar energy use in all zones.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
The city has not adopted mandatory EV-ready requirements.
Low-energy use requirements
New municipal buildings must be built to LEED Gold standards.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Aurora requires plan reviews and site inspections to verify code compliance and provides free upfront support to developers. A project manager is assigned to work with applicants to provide the best end product possible. We could not find information on the number of full time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code.
Last updated: July 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and Multifamily Benchmarking
In June 2021, the State of Colorado passed energy benchmarking requirements for commercial and multifamily buildings greater than 50,000 square feet.
Rental Energy Disclosure
State bill HB21-1286 requires multifamily and commercial building owners to disclose energy-use information to prospective tenants and leasers. The requirement also requires dislcosure at the time of lease renewal.
Building Performance Standards
State bill HB21-1286 sets building performance requirements for multifamily and commercial buildings greater than 50,000 sqaure feet.
Time of Sale Requirement
State bill HB21-1286 requires multifamily and commercial building owners to disclose energy-use information to prospective buyers.
Incentives
Aurora offers PACE financing to commercial property owners for renewable and energy efficiency improvements.
October 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Aurora has supported the research and development center SolarTAC, which has provided several workforce training opportunities.
Last updated: July 2021
Transportation
Score: 6.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City of Aurora does not have a standalone transportation plan, but it does have a Sustainability Plan with strategies to reduce transportation emissions and energy use. In addition to the sustainability plan, the city's 2018 Comprehensive Plan defines current and future high frequency transit networks, primary bike routes, and off-street trails. The street typicals defined in the Northeast Area Transportation Study (2018) all feature buffered bike lanes or separated bike lanes. This area is rapidly developing, so the resulting roadway network will have a dense network of comfortable and protected bike infrastructure. The street typicals with buffered bike lanes or separated bike lanes are currently being integrated into city-wide roadway design & construction specifications.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
At this time, the City does not have a codified vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
We could not determine if the City tracks VMT or GHG numbers.
Last Updated: October 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
The purpose of the City Center district is to establish an identity for the city through the establishment of a full-service central district with business, residential, employment, and government activities. The district is intended to create a unique place by encouraging the use of special land planning principles and high-quality design. The City Center district is created in recognition of the economic and cultural advantages of an intensive, planned, mixed-use City Center of sufficient size to provide intensive non-residential activities and high-density residential uses.
The city's updated 2018 Comprehensive Plan "Aurora Places" defines and identifies nine transit oriented development areas around light rail stations, and completed individual station area plans for each location. The city's zoning code, the 2019 Unified Development Ordinance has a "Mixed Used - Transit Orientated Development District" with a stated purpose that includes "reduce reliance on the automobile and encourage the use of transit".
Residential Parking Policies
The City requires 2 parking spaces per dwelling unity.
The city's recently updated zoning code, the 2019 Unified Development Ordinance. The update restructured parking requirements for several land uses, including industrial land uses, from a per square footage amount to a peak employee amount. This has decreased the amount of required parking throughout new developements or redevelopments in the city. The new MU-TOD zoning has a parking requirement of 0.85 spaces per unit. In addition, developers can utilize parking incentives such as being near a high-frequency transit line, providing more than required bicycle parking, or providing public EV charging stations, to qualify for as much as a 30 percent decrease in their total parking requirements.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
Several of the city's zoning classifications have minimum required densities, include 60 dwelling units / acre in MU TODA (Core), 20 dwelling units / acre in MU-TOD (Edge), and 40 dwelling units / acre in MU-A. The city has removed maximum residential densitiies from most zoning districts.
Last Updated: October 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
At this time, the City does not have a codified mode share target for trips within the city.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
No progress has been achieved, as there are no targets in place.
Complete Streets
At this time, the City of Aurora does not have a complete streets policy.
Last Updated: October 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
We could not determine how much per capita Aurora spends on transit.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Aurora’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 6.4, putting it in the fourth highest category (5-6.99) available in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: October 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
The City partnered with Nissan to offer half off of a Nissan LEAF SV in November 2018.
In 2016, 2017, and 2018, the City partnered with a local Nissan dealership to offer specially negotiated pricing on all Leaf models. Over 200 Nissan vehicles have been sold through that program. In 2017, the City also partnered with a BMW dealership to offer special pricing. In 2019, the Nissan dealership offered special pricing again without involvement from the City, showing the maturity of the City’s special program and continued demand for the vehicles.
State and federal tax credits along with price discounts and rebates offered by Xcel Energy and the auto dealership, Tynan’s Nissan Aurora, ratcheted the price down by $19,500. (2019)
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
The City of Aurora currently does not offer incentives for installing private or public EV charging infrastructure.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 109 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 28.7 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Akron does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Akron does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: October 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Aurora does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: October 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
The city’s new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) added a land use definition for “Affordable Housing Structure”, described as a multifamily structure that received public funding to ensure that some portion of the building is dedicated as affordable housing. This land use is permitted as a multifamily development in the MU-TOD zoning district as well as other districts in key transit corridors. The Affordable Housing Structure designation offers relief from various zoning requirements and development standards, including increased building height and building length; reduction in masonry building materials requirements; exemption from garage/carport requirements; and a reduction in required parking from 1.0 spaces per unit to 0.85 spaces per unit.
Additionally, the UDO converted most previously commercial districts into mixed-use districts. This change significantly expands opportunities for residential land uses, including the Affordable Housing Structure and other innovative residential types, like townhouses, cottage, and co-housing developments, into transit-served centers and corridors.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Aurora does not currently provide rebates or incentives to low-income residents for efficient transportation options. That being said, the City's dockless mobility permit program requires operators to serve an area in northwest Aurora that traditionally have a high proportion of low-income or vulnerable residents. The city also requires dockless mobility operators to include with the permit application a plan to provide an equitable mobility sharing service for patrons without smart phone or are unbanked.
Last Updated: October 2021
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 11.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Xcel (Public Service Company of Colorado), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric and natural gas utility for the City of Aurora. The State of Colorado requires spending and savings targets for its utilities through an EERS as well as efficiency requirements within demand-side management plans to be filed annually. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Colorado page of the State Database.
Aurora Water is the municipal utility that provides the City of Aurora with drinking water services, while the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District provides wastewater treatment and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, Xcel Energy reported 472,335 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.62% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only in Aurora. In 2019, Xcel spent $82,269,801 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 3.01% of its electric retail revenue.
In 2019, Xcel reported 6.49 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.49% of its retail gas sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Xcel spent $14,471,991 on gas energy efficiency, which equates to $11.05 per residential gas customer. These savings figures cover Xcel’s entire service jurisdiction, not just the City of Aurora.
Xcel offers natural gas and electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
Aurora partners with Xcel Energy through the Partners in Energy program where the city and utility partner to set energy efficiency targets and determine renewable energy strategies for the community.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Xcel Energy offers a portfolio of dual fuel programs to serve low-income residential customers, including the Single-Family Weatherization Program, the Low-Income Multifamily Weatherization Program, Low-Income Nonprofit Program, and Low-Income Energy Savings Kit Program. These programs provide no-cost weatherization measures through third-party product implementers. Measures include weatherstripping, insulation, replacement of inefficient furnaces and refrigerators, water efficiency measures, and installation of efficient lighting. Additionally, Xcel offers energy-savings kits to low-income customers. Xcel Energy’s low-income programs target high energy users and elderly customers and streamline eligibility through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Weatherization Assistance Program income qualifications. Xcel Energy partners with the Colorado Energy Office and Energy Outreach Colorado, which actively work on low-income customer programs.
Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) implements the utility’s low-income programs. EOC leverages funds from utility rebates, government funding, and donor funds to address health and safety and other needed repairs and measures. Xcel Energy provides $275,000 in utility funds per year to address health and safety threats tied to energy savings, such as boiler and furnace tune-ups, replacements, and water heater replacements.
In 2019, Xcel Energy saved 7,028 MWh and 0.78 MMtherms of energy, while spending $3,855,148 and $3,863,558 on its electric and natural gas low-income programs, respectively. In 2019, Xcel Energy served 9,061 electric and 5,260 natural gas customers. Households served include those receiving energy-saving kits and those participating in weatherization programs.
Multifamily Programs
Xcel offers the Multifamily Weatherization Program. This comprehensive program provides funding for a wide variety of natural gas and electric equipment retrofits, process improvements, facility audits and studies for low-income multifamily buildings. The company's rebates supplement federal weatherization grants to produce incremental, cost-effective natural gas and electric savings. Each submitted project is evaluated using a custom analysis by the company's energy efficiency engineers to determine cost-effectiveness. In some cases, rebates for additional energy-saving equipment are also made available.
In 2019, Xcel Energy’s Multifamily program saved 8,906 MWh and 0.22 MMtherms of energy, while spending $1,389,644 on its electric multifamily programs and $542,110 on its natural gas multifamily programs. Xcel Energy served 1,9980 electric housing units in 27 multifamily properties and 2,378 natural gas housing units in 37 multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Xcel provides the free automatic upload of monthly energy bill data to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager accounts, including aggregated whole building data for buildings with four or more tenants. Xcel Energy provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through their Community Energy Reports on an annual basis. The City of Aurora does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In December 2018, Xcel Energy set a goal to provide customers with 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. They also include an interim goal of reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. To achieve this goal, Xcel Energy will need to reduce emissions by 6.1% annually from 2019 levels in the state of Colorado.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
At this time, we cannot confirm whether or not the city of Aurora participates in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation.
Last Updated: July 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
In 2019, Aurora Water entered a partnership with Xcel Energy to provide financial incentives for energy efficient and low water use commercial laundry machines. Xcel Energy also offers low-flow showerheads, aerators, clothes washers, dish washers, and spray valves to customers of Aurora Water. Aurora Water strives to achieve a 10% reduction in GPCD by 2040.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
Aurora Water has studied energy efficiency measures for many years. In 2011, a formal Energy Master Plan study was commissioned to identify cost-effective energy saving measures for AW’s facilities. Among the desired outcomes of the study was to establish a baseline carbon footprint and a methodology for long term measurement and tracking and to evaluate the potential for renewable energy and energy recovery. The Energy Master Plan study identified multiple programs and projects that have been implemented over a multiyear timespan. These projects include increased pump motor efficiency and replacement with more efficient parts, pump automation, major lighting upgrades, and creation of a power monitoring dashboard across all systems city-wide, along with facility-specific upgrades and installations. The Energy Master Plan continues to be updated and implemented, with a proposal for installation of 1,440 kW of solar panels over a buried finished water reservoir in 2020-21.
Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, which treats Aurora's sewage, uses methane gas from the solid digestion processed as fuel to make enough electricity to power almost 5,000 homes.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Aurora has a goal to reduce local government greenhouse gas emissions 10% below 2007 levels by 2025. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a quantitative municipal energy reduction goal, though the city's Master Plan promotes "resource-efficient development by incorporating energy and water conservation."
Renewable Energy Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Aurora’s SmartFleet Action Plan establishes a plan to set goals for replacing convention vehicles with “clean and green vehicles,” but we were unable to find information regarding vehicle type or fuel efficiency requirements in the city. Aurora’s municipal fleet is composed of 0.75% efficient vehicles, including hybrid and plug-in hybrids vehicles.
Public Lighting
We did not find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm if Aurora has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite renewable systems
Aurora hosts renewable energy systems at three city facilities: Aurora Municipal Court, Sand Creek Water Reuse Facility, and Facilities North Satellite Campus. We were unable to confirm the installed capacity at these facilities.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to find information indicating that the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding benchmarking practices in Aurora.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We did not find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Aurora.
Last updated: June 2021