Solar Array

July 1, 2008 saw the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and debut of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School and Aspen Ski Company solar-electric array. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Aspen Ski Company owner Jim Crown were present for this grand-opening ceremony, in addition to many other key leaders statewide. This one-half acre, 147kw array situated on CRMS land is among the largest of its kind in Western Colorado and reinforces Carbondale's position as solar-energy leader. CRMS will utilize the array to power the Jossman academic building and the rest of the electricity will be fed into the power grid, with CRMS purchasing power for the next 20 years at a fixed rate. CRMS has been committed to exploring solar energy since the mid '70s and will utilize the new array as a teaching tool, in addition to following the energy-production data online.

Other Campus-Wide Efforts

With the building of our Solar Dorm in the 1960s, CRMS was a pioneer in the then-young field of energy-efficient building design. That commitment to innovation surfaced again in the design of the Charlotte Jossman Academic Building in 2004, resulting in an energy-efficient and highly functional building for CRMS academic life. Many campus buildings are original ranch structures and others are of varying vintages. As the school renovates and remodels, energy efficiency and low-impact materials are incorporated into those efforts, including:

   >> insulating the historic Barn and giving it a new roof;
   >> replacing single-pane windows throughout the campus;
   >> renovating the Log House to make it more efficient;
   >> installing gas meters on individual buildings to collect usage data;
   >> retrofitting all lights with high-efficiency T8 light fixtures;
   >> powering an all-electric vehicle with photovoltaic cells from the CRMS garden;
   >> installing solar lights along campus paths; and many more.

As the campus continues to grow, and projects large and small are undertaken, the CRMS Environmental Statement of Purpose will continue to guide our decisions toward a more sustainable future.