Aspen Community Church has been awarded Bronze Recognition from the Colorado Green Business Network for months of dedicated effort by staff, congregation members, and local partners to integrate green practices throughout the church’s operations and ministries.

This marks a significant milestone in the church’s commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable growth, according to a press release. The church has joined a number of statewide faith-based organizations and nonprofits who have identified sustainability as a core tenet of their mission.

“The church’s leadership believes that spiritual values and environmental responsibility go hand in hand,” the press release states. “In earning this distinction, the church has shown that environmental responsibility can be integrated into daily operations, outreach, and worship — setting a powerful example for other organizations across Colorado.”

Aspen Community Church undertook a comprehensive assessment of its environmental footprint and identified several key focus areas for improvement that include energy usage, waste management, water conservation, and community education. Initiatives for improvement included:

• The church invested in energy-efficient lighting, appliances, and heating systems and installed motion sensors and programmable thermostats “to ensure that energy is used only when necessary.” The building’s insulation was also improved to significantly lower heating and cooling needs throughout the year; 
• The church implemented comprehensive recycling and composting programs and established educational signage throughout the facility encouraging visitors and members to separate waste properly. The church also transitioned to reusable tableware for all events and eliminated single-use plastics wherever possible; 
• Low-flow fixtures and drought-resistant landscaping have been installed on church grounds, along with rainwater collection systems for the community garden and outdoor spaces;
• The church sources eco-friendly, locally produced, and Fair Trade office supplies, cleaning products, and hospitality items wherever possible;
• The church has incorporated environmental stewardship into its curriculum for youth and adult programs, regularly hosting workshops and seminars on sustainability topics. Church leaders have also partnered with local organizations to advance broader community green initiatives.

The church credits collaboration as the key to its success, forming a Green Team of volunteers and staff members to develop strategies, oversee implementation, and track progress. This team worked closely with the Colorado Green Business Network.

“This award is not just a recognition of environmental changes to our building, but a testament to the spirit of our congregation,” Aspen Community Church Pastor Rev. J.R. Atkins said in the release. “We view caring for creation as a sacred responsibility, and this journey has brought our community even closer together.” 

The church’s Green Team has already identified additional projects for the coming year. These include expanding solar energy generation on church property, hosting more public workshops on zero-waste living, partnering with local schools for environmental education initiatives, and utilizing sustainable transportation incentives.