Sustainability
The daily activities of state government have a significant impact on the quality of Colorado's public health, environment and economy.
Since 2003, Colorado Governors have been endorsing and establishing a statewide commitment to sustainability. CDOT must be a conscientious and accountable agency that is as efficient, effective, and elegant as possible.
What is Sustainability
Sustainability is based on a simple principle:
"development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
All human needs, in one, way shape or form, depend on our natural environment. To pursue the model and goal of sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist to support present and future generations (social, environmental, and economic harmony).
As an employer, CDOT is responsible for upholding the health and well-being of its staff members by offering a safe and satisfying work environment.
As a service provider, CDOT must be socially and economically responsible to the taxpayers by achieving cost savings on resources, materials and waste management.
As one of the largest state agency consumers of natural resources (coal, oil, crude asphalt, petroleum, water) in Colorado, sustainability reaches beyond wise use and management of fiscal funds; sustainability encompasses the protection of natural resources and materials for future generations. Implementing sustainability principles leads to balanced use and conservation of resources over time, ensuring materials are available for future populations people and the planet.
What Does the U.S. DOT Say?
"The USDOT will continue to pursue opportunities for the national transportation system which:
- Promote energy and natural resource conservation;
- Decrease emissions of GHGs and other pollutants;
- Enhance our operations by minimizing use of hazardous materials and chemicals;
- Advance our national interest in increasing energy efficiency;
- Reduce our dependence on fossil fuels;
- Ensure transportation infrastructure resiliency; and
- Build livable communities."
- energy and water efficiency;
- petroleum reduction;
- greenhouse gas emissions reduction;
- increasing the use of renewable energy;
- increasing landfill diversion/recycling rates; and
- enhancing environmental-preferable purchasing opportunities.
CDOT has a variety of methods, tools, guides and programs that support the application of sustainability within decision-making including:
- NEW Sustainability Online Training with an Office, Maintenance and Construction module
- CDOT Sustainability Program and Action Plan
- The greening of CDOT's buildings and operations
- Executive and government-wide orders
More Resources
Federal Center Sustainability Page
Colorado Greening Government and the Greening Government Leadership Council (Under Construction)
As part of CDOT's mission to provide the best multi-modal transportation system for Colorado that most effectively and safely moves people, goods and information, its Sustainability Program is committed to developing and supporting a sustainable organization and transportation system.
CDOT will:
- Strive to reduce its emissions, waste, energy use, and water consumption to preserve and enhance human, environmental, and fiscal health.
- Maximize and promote efficient resource use, reuse, recycling and repurposing.
We encourage all CDOT employees and partners to learn about and implement sustainability strategies via the resources on this site. Meanwhile, we will maintain our compliance with state requirements, improve our environmental performance and work toward being a leader in sustainable efforts.
