Energy, Equity, and the Environment

We are offering limited time $25/box discounts on Resource Central’s Garden-in-a-Box program for Summer 2026, beginning on Wednesday, June 24. The Garden-in-a-Box program offers kits of low/native/xeric plant material with a plant-by-number plan to help residents remove portions of their cool-season turf grass lawn and save on their water bills.

If interested, visit the link, add a box to your cart, and ensure you pick “Commerce City” for the $25/box discount at checkout. Boxes can be picked up closer to the time of planting at locations all over the Metro area.

If you decide to purchase a garden kit, please send any exciting details about your landscaping project to Libby at etart@c3gov.com. We would love to feature photos or stories on our website in the future!

Starting on July 27, 2026, residents can check out handheld air quality monitors and radon sensors from the Commerce City Anythink Library, offering a simple and accessible way to learn more about indoor air quality conditions and promote environmental awareness.

Through this partnership, community members can borrow a Temtop M10+ Air Quality Monitor, a compact and user-friendly device designed to provide real-time data on several key air quality metrics. These monitors measure PM2.5 (fine particulate matter), TVOCs (Total Volatile Organic Compounds), and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) levels, as well as providing a general Air Quality Index (AQI) rating. Review the section below to gain a better understanding of your results and what you can do to mitigate high readings in and around your home.

Community members can also borrow a SAF Aranet Radon Detector. This radon gas detector offers continuous radon measurement every 10 minutes, and measures temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure in your home. For best results, keep the detector running for at least an hour.

Results and Next Steps 

PM2.5 (Particulate Matter <2.5um) 

• Green - good 
• Yellow - moderate 
• Red – poor 

Particles/Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10, dust, allergens, bioaerosols) – Particulate matter (also known as aerosols) is any kind of liquid droplets or solid particles that is suspended in the air. There are many types and sources of particulate pollution in your home. 

Cooking – One of the largest sources of particulate matter in a home is from cooking, such as using your stove, oven, toaster etc. 

What to do it your PM2.5 is high? If your particulate matter is high, use an air cleaner in your room.
Use an indoor air cleaner (also called air purifiers) to reduce particulate matter. HEPA air cleaners or do-it yourself (DIY) air cleaners are recommended to decrease indoor particulate matter pollution. Some HEPA air cleaners also have carbon filters, which can reduce VOC concentrations as well. Ozone generators are not recommended because being exposed to ozone concentrations can cause health issues. Use an air cleaner when cooking, lighting candles, when there is wildfire smoke outside, and when running a fireplace. 

The EPA has information on how to create a DIY air cleaner (https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/diy-air-cleaners).

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

• Green - Good 
• Yellow - Moderate 
• Red – Poor 

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) – You may have heard that carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, but did you know that it is a major indoor air pollutant in many homes? CO₂ is released from combustion processes—in your home this includes cooking, heating with a furnace, lighting candles, and anything else that burns. A major source of CO₂ inside of a building are the people within it. You breathe out carbon dioxide all day long, so if your house does not have good ventilation, CO₂ can accumulate indoors. Increased CO₂ can cause drowsiness and lack of focus. Higher levels of CO₂ are associated with headaches, sleepiness, poor concentration, and stagnant, stale, and stuffy air.  

Have you ever had a hard time waking up in the morning? Try sleeping with your bedroom door open as CO₂ can build up significantly in your bedroom at night, which can lead to a drowsy feeling in the morning when you are trying to get ready for the day. 

What to do if your CO₂ is high? If your CO₂ level is high, try opening a door or window. Check the Love My Air map first to make sure that the pollution is not high outside first. Click here to access the Love My Air map. You can also download the free app on your phone.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• Green - Good 
• Yellow - Moderate 
• Red – Poor 

There are many different types of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in indoor environments caused by many different sources. VOCs are most often higher in concentration indoors compared to outdoors. Some of the sources of VOCs include cleaning products, glues/adhesives, pesticides, air fresheners, hair spray, paints, smoking, vaping, and personal care/beauty products. Because air pollutants can build up in a room, people can be extra sensitive to these scents indoors. 

What to do if VOCs are high in your home? The best way to get rid of VOCs is to not have the sources that produce the VOCs in your home. Specifically avoid products that contain phthalates or ‘fragrances’ if you notice that you or a family member has sensitivities near smelly products. Phthalates are often added to consumer products or personal care products to add scents; however, many people are sensitive to these chemicals, causing brain fog, rashes, and headaches. Using soap and water or baking soda and vinegar for general cleaning will also dramatically decrease VOCs in your home.

Radon 

• Green - Good 
• Yellow - Moderate 
• Red - Poor 

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Colorado. Radon will be the highest in a basement, followed by the first level of a home. This is because radon comes from the soil and can get into basements through small cracks. If your radon is high, it is very important to mitigate it.

What to do if your radon is high? If your radon is shown high by the sensor (at the yellow, moderate level), it will be important to do a certified radon test to determine how high it is and if it is a health concern. Adams County has a free radon test kit program that you can sign up for here. Low-income homeowners may qualify for Colorado’s radon mitigation assistance program. Check out Colorado’s program at https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/testing-your-home-radon.  

This City of Commerce City has officially joined the Sustainable Neighborhoods Network! Building on Commerce City’s strong tradition of community engagement. This free program offers neighborhoods a chance to take collective action for the environment. It fosters connections among residents, builds community pride, and provides opportunities for individuals to engage in sustainability efforts.

Neighborhoods participating in this unique certification program organize workshops, projects, and events that enhance the livability of their neighborhood and reduce residents' ecological footprint. Learn more at SustainableNeighborhoodNetwork.org

Application coming soon

Commerce City has been selected as one of 17 communities nationwide to participate in the 2026 LEED for Cities Cohort through the U.S. Green Building Council’s Local Government Leadership Program. Participation in the cohort will help Commerce City measure progress, set future sustainability goals, and continue building a healthier, more sustainable community. Read the full announcement.

We are working with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy to create an Electric Vehicle (EV) Readiness Plan. Phase I of the project began in October 2025 and ended in July 2026. The initial phase of the plan sets a vision, goals, targets, focus areas and implementation strategies for prioritizing and promoting actions within the EV Plan.

Please reach out to Libby at etart@c3gov.com.

Our team has worked with Xcel Energy Partners in Energy to create an Energy Equity Action Plan(PDF, 3MB). Commerce City was selected as an Equity Pilot community, giving special focus to addressing energy burden and access to energy resources disparities in energy resources.

The Plan advances goals outlined in the Sustainability Action Plan by translating energy-efficiency goals into actionable strategies through an equity lens. It focuses on reducing energy burden and environmental exposure, particularly for renters, income-qualified households, and communities adjacent to industrial activity. The plan is complete and the working group is now in the implementation phase.

Implementation efforts are currently in progress.

In June 2025, we finalized two xeric garden designs with Spiegel Aihara Workshop (SAW), a landscape architecture firm, and started seeking out funding to construct the gardens in 2026. Xeric landscaping promotes lower water use, plant material more suitable for living in the arid West, and plant varieties that attract pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and birds.

The two gardens are fully funded with Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) funding and a grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). One garden will be featured at Monaco Park, and the other garden will be featured at Bison Recreation Center. E3 is still working through details on an RFP for the project(s). They will be constructed either in late Spring, early Summer or early Fall of 2026.

See photos of each garden design below:

*Monaco Park Xeric Demonstration Garden Design

*Bison Ridge Recreation Center Garden Design

Exciting News from the ACT Program; our Community Gardens project is blooming! We're thrilled to introduce two new community gardens as part of our environmental initiative aimed at promoting sustainability, providing fresh produce, and fostering community connections. The gardens will be located at Bison Ridge Recreation Center and Monaco Park.

The Environmental Policy and Innovation Commission (EPIC) is also working with Lestor Arnold High School to establish a community garden there. Construction of the garden is in progress.

Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) includes heat- trapping gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. As fossil fuel usage has increased over the last 200 years, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has

increased at a quicker rate than natural systems can absorb. Trapped CO2 gradually increase the amount of heat in the atmosphere, causing a slow, gradual rise in temperatures. Rising temperatures cause increases in ozone formation (i.e., smog).

As the climate continues to shift, communities can respond to the associated rise in extreme weather through two approaches: adaptation (i.e., changing processes and infrastructure to thrive in a new normal) and mitigation (i.e., reducing carbon pollution). Implementing strategies from both these approaches will ensure the community thrives against the escalation of extreme weather events and climatic shifts, while working to prevent additional future harm.

Environmental and Climate Resilience Framework

The completed Environmental and Climate Resilience Framework will supplement the Sustainability Action Plan. The first draft was completed on February 12 and has since been adopted.

This framework builds off of and complements the Sustainability Action Plan and fills gaps from the Adams County Hazard Mitigation Plan. As mentioned in the Sustainability Action Plan, intensifying climatic conditions and extreme weather are accelerating. The city must carefully plan and implement strategies to adapt and mitigate the impacts that residents will face from these conditions and weather as well as build resilience against already existing environmental stressors.

Final Draft(PDF, 5MB) | ADA Accessible Document(DOCX, 1MB)

The City generates three streams of waste: the material that is deposited by the public in waste containers at parks, natural areas, and recreational facilities (including illegally dumped items); industrial byproducts from activities such as street sweeping, storm water detention pond clean-outs, and repair/maintenance of water and sewer pipes; and discarded “office” types of material from administrative buildings, shops, warehouses, and utility plants. Systems for collection and management vary, as does the potential for capturing materials from each of these waste streams to be reused, recycled, or composted. Making staff and public knowledgeable about their habits relating to solid waste and how to reduce waste is a powerful tool for achieving waste reduction and diversion goals, reducing carbon emissions, and extending landfill life.

By diverting certain kinds of waste from their endpoints in landfills, the City can reframe waste as “new” materials for reuse and provide new opportunities for job creati

The city’s trash and recycling provider is Republic Services, learn more at c3gov.com/Trash.

As the City reassesses its plans for sustainable growth into the future, it must consider the critical ways in which transportation infrastructure contributes to air pollution, resilience, and community accessibility. Transportation infrastructure – from public transit to active transportation – in many ways shapes what communities look like, how people behave, and the overall quality of life in the City. Strategies in this sector include those that address the lack of accessibility for public transit and active transportation networks.

Fostering alternative transportation options has multiple benefits such as lowering emissions, cutting fuel expenditures, extending vehicle life, reducing reliance on foreign oil, and creating U.S. jobs by alternative fleet manufacturing.

View the RTD routes in C3

Climate change affects human health in many ways including but not limited to heat- and cold-related deaths and illnesses and increases in asthma and allergy-related symptoms. Warmer temperatures and later fall frosts also allow plants to produce pollen later into the year, prolonging the allergy season.

Industrial pollution issues impact all Commerce City residents, crossing racial and socioeconomic lines. This focus area seeks to tackle industry related air quality issues and health justice, a major priority for all C3 residents, particularly residents of color who disproportionately live near industrial facilities.

The municipal government can set an example regarding wellness and safety and influence policies while providing exceptional services to motivate residents toward healthy lifestyle choices and, ultimately, healthier and more productive lives.

Commerce City does not regulate air or water violations. The Colorado Department of Public Health is the responsible agency. Below are contacts that can be used for emergency notifications, complaints that may require an inspection, and environmental justice concerns.

Air Concerns

Any resident in Commerce City can submit an air or water complaint or concern to the Colorado Department of Public Health. There are numerous offices, but the Environmental Justice Office and the Air Quality Office are the best places to start regarding air concerns. The state does have a mobile monitoring unit that can be driven to a select neighborhood to conduct real time testing. Residents can also sign up to receive notifications from Suncor. Legally any exceedance over a certain level (> 500 lbs in 24 hrs) requires the state to notify community members through the Emergency Planning and community Right to Know Act (EPCRA).

Environmental Justice

Marcus Howell, CDPHE Environmental Justice Contact ej_complaints@state.co.us. 

Air Quality/ Oil & Gas Emissions

For air quality enforcement issues and air quality complaints, contact: State and local air contacts | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. If you’re unsure who to contact for information, call: 303-692-3150

There are three entities that provide emergency notifications: Adams County (evacuation, water contamination, etc.), CDPHE for air pollution emissions over a large quantity (>500 lbs), and the Suncor facility and an additional site for general ambient air conditions (I.e. high ozone).

Notifications (Suncor):

Notifications from Suncor are available in both English and Spanish via text, email and/or phone. To sign up for refinery notifications, visit Suncor.com/CCRsignup or text SUNCOR to 888777. 

Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, A-2
Notifications aren’t released on weekends or evenings.  

Noise Pollution

General Noise Information

The maximum level of safe noise is 70 decibels (dBA) – Sounds at or below 70 dBA are considered safe for our hearing

Sound Levels of various objects/events: Breathing: 10 dBA

• Train horns: 96-110 dBA
• Rustling leaves: 20-30 dBA
• Thunderclap: 120 dBA
• Wail of a siren: 120-140 dBA
• Lawn mowers: 90 dBA
• Subway trains: 90-115 dBA
• Rock concerts: 110-120 dBA
• Noise pollution can be defined as an unwanted sound
• Noise Control Act, 1972, EPA
• NOTE: In the 1970s, EPA coordinated all federal noise control activities through its Office of Noise Abatement and Control. EPA phased out the office's funding in 1982 as part of a shift in federal noise control policy to transfer the primary responsibility of regulating noise to state and local governments. However, the Noise Control Act of 1972 and the Quiet Communities Act of 1978 were never rescinded by Congress and remain in effect today, although they are essentially unfunded.

Main impacts on health:

• Hearing loss
• Sleep disruption
• Cardiovascular disease
• Social handicaps
• Reduced productivity
• Impaired teaching and learning
• Absenteeism
• Increased drug use
• Accidents
• Impair ability to enjoy one’s property and leisure time Increases the frequency of antisocial behavior

The WHO has documented seven categories of adverse health effects of noise pollution on humans:

Hearing impairments
Negative social behavior and annoyance reactions
Annoyance
Interference with Spoken Communication
Sleep Disturbances
Cardiovascular Disturbances
Disturbances in mental health

Effects of Noise Pollution on Human Health and the Environment

The word noise is derived from Latin word ‘‘Nausea’’ implying ‘‘unwanted sound’’ or sound that is loud, unpleasant or unexpected. It can be defined as wrong sound, in the wrong place and at the wrong time
Noise represents an important public health problem that can lead to hearing loss, sleep disruption, cardiovascular disease, social handicaps, reduced productivity, negative social behavior, annoyance reactions, absenteeism and accidents
Environmental Noise and Health

Environmental Noise Pollution: Noise Mapping, Public Health, and Policy - Enda Murphy, Eoin A King - Google Books
The WHO lists the burden of disease from environmental noise:

• Annoyance Sleep disturbance/quality
• Cardiovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Tinnitus
• Impairment of early childhood development and education caused by noise may have lifelong effects on academic achievement and health. Studies and statistics on the effects of chronic exposure to aircraft noise on children have found:
• • Consistent evidence that noise exposure harms cognitive performance
  • Consistent association with impaired well-being and motivation to a slightly more limited extent
• Moderate evidence of effects on blood pressure and catecholamine hormone secretion
• Biological effects
• Well-being
• Medical conditions

Noise Impacts on Animals

Noise Pollution: Environmental Impact and What You Can Do (treehugger.com) It hampers communication - Most animals rely on vocalizations and other acoustic signals to communicate with each other. Interference makes it challenging for animals to find mates, warn of danger, establish territories, and coordinate group activities.
It disrupts reproduction - Noise pollution is distracting and can disrupt breeding behaviors and lead to diminished reproductive success. For instance, loud noises near nesting sites can cause birds to abandon their nests.
It compromises dwindling habitats - Noise can reduce the quality of usable habitat, something that is already in critical decline.
It alters foraging patterns - Noise pollution can change the foraging patterns of animals. For example, ship noise can cause marine mammals to avoid certain feeding grounds.
It leads to stress and health issues - Just like in human animals, prolonged exposure to loud and constant noise can lead to chronic stress in non-human animals, which can have many adverse effects.
It drowns out environmental cues - Noise p

Colorado Entities that Have Noise Ordinances

City of Arvada
City of Aurora
City of Boulder
Boulder County
City of Centennial
City of Colorado Springs
City of Fort Collins
City of Greeley
City of Lakewood
City of Longmont
City of Loveland
City of Pueblo
City of Thornton
City of Westminster

Other Resources

Noise Pollution (nationalgeographic.org) Curbing Traffic: The Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives by Melissa Bruntlett and Chris Bruntlett

www.NoiseOFF.org HYPERLINK "https://www.c3gov.com/www.nonoise.org"www.nonoise.org HYPERLINK "https://www.c3gov.com/www.noisefree.org"www.noisefree.org HYPERLINK "https://www.c3gov.com/www.lhh.org/noise"www.lhh.org/noise

Critical to the success of any City, sustainability policy is the ability and commitment to invest resources towards implementing and sustaining this work. The community will recognize the allocation of City funds as a demonstration of genuine commitment to community health and sustainability; therefore, funding programs and hiring dedicated staff to manage grant requests and projects, along with providing support for community-level incentive programs, will work to build trust with the community. The municipality needs to develop a mechanism (i.e., project or scholarship) to seed efficiencies, encourage innovation, and leverage savings into more efficiencies. Innovative projects support and enhance the City’s application of sustainable thinking and decision-making.

Most of the food we eat comes from sources hundreds or thousands of miles away. In most communities, less than 3% of food consumption is locally grown and locally produced. Sustainable, local, and organic food production and distribution strategies have enjoyed broadened community support in recent years. Nationally, the U.S. organic industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation. Studies have shown that small farms reinvest more money into local food economies by purchasing feed, seed, and other materials from local businesses. Since 1999, the global land area farmed organically has expanded more than threefold. Focused development of our local food network is a potential economic catalyst with many social and environmental benefits such as reducing obesity and increasing access to healthy food.

Community Gardens in Commerce City:

• Village Crest Apartments
• AnyThink Library
• Email us with any suggestions for locations for more gardens!

Poster: Be a Sticker Stickler(PDF, 3MB)   | Spanish(PDF, 4MB)

Learn more about keeping Chickens and Bees in Commerce City.

Forest canopies aid in carbon dioxide absorption, give access to shade, reduce air conditioning needs, increase property values, helps with stormwater absorption, allows traffic calming along streets and pedestrian buffers from vehicles, and acts as habitat for wildlife. Maintaining natural species cover promotes and restores biodiversity and conserves water. Access to green spaces and adequate tree canopy plays a critical mitigating role in environmental and public health, particularly as temperatures grow hotter and for vulnerable communities. Biodiversity is crucial to the resilience of natural ecosystems. C3’s current tree canopy level is at 4%, which is well below the 24% level recommended for a prairie ecosystem.

The city is taking action to increase its canopy. The city worked with PlanIT Geo to complete the first city-wide tree canopy assessment and inventory which was completed in Spring 2026. This will provide current status and insight to the city’s canopy health and diversity and will be a foundation to future canopy expansion and programs.

Tree Canopy Assessment(PDF, 29MB)

The city also worked with CU Boulder Masters of the Environment graduate students from June 2025 to December 2025 to gain insight to residential canopy. The student team gathered valuable insight to how residents view trees and identified opportunities for enhancement to the canopy. In turn, the student group created several useful tools. For residents interested in information about tree care and planting, see the Commerce City Tree Planting and Care Guide. For more information, please reach out to oquagliani@c3gov.com.

Tree Planting and Care Guide(PDF, 32MB)

Water challenges will undoubtedly continue to plague the City and the State as drought conditions contribute to the over-extraction of State waters and increases in the cost of water. Policies that encourage conservation, low impact development, and investment in infrastructure upgrades will be crucial to guaranteeing the continuation of Commerce City's water supplies and water quality.

Generally, over 50% of water commercially and residentially is used for irrigation, making irrigation efficiency one of the easiest ways to reduce potable water consumption. The city uses water for maintaining parks, street medians, and operating city facilities. Using native, drought-tolerant landscaping represents one way to decrease the demand for landscape irrigation and address climate change adaptation strategies. Indoor water use can be reduced through audits and using WaterSense features.

Interested in knowing how water sustainability applies to your residence? Check out more information on residential landscaping on the Community Development page HERE.  

To learn more about water efforts, please see the Water Sustainability page.