CORE tells Aspen it aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% next year

A local nonprofit focused on emission reductions hopes to further its goals next year through continued focus on the emission reduction of the built environment. 

“In order to achieve climate action goals, we need to continue to reduce emissions from buildings,” said Tara Stitzlein, newly appointed CEO of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency. She added that 50% to 60% of Aspen and Pitkin County’s greenhouse-gas emissions come from the built environment.

Outlining CORE’s 2026 goals to Aspen City Council on Tuesday, Stitzlein said the nonprofit hopes to reduce 20% more greenhouse-gas emissions next year than they do currently. The organization will also continue to dedicate at least 40% of the organization’s resources to Community Priority Participants — like the local workforce — to help them improve their building efficiency. 

Using the $1.1 million of funding contributed to CORE by the city of Aspen this year — which constituted a significant portion of the nonprofit’s income — CORE has so far awarded $591,620 in rebates and grants and funded 29 projects in the city of Aspen. The funding also supported the installation of 14 heat pumps, which are electrically powered and energy efficient, and has helped reduce 133 annual Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent in Aspen.

Throughout CORE’s entire territory of operations, they have awarded over $1.6 million in emission reduction incentives so far this year to property owners in Pitkin, Eagle, and Garfield counties. This has comprised 158 projects, supported the installation of 108 heat pumps, and reduced 540 annual Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent. 

According to Anthesis, a sustainability consulting firm, one metric ton of Carbon Dioxide is equivalent to driving a gasoline car 5,000 miles, or the electricity consumption of 0.65 average households annually. 

To help meet their 2026 emissions goals, Stitzlein said CORE must increase focus on high impact commercial projects, which they aim to do by enhancing staff expertise through professional development. 

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She added that the organization must “deliver excellent customer service,” gather feedback to improve their process of helping those looking to reduce building emissions, and dedicate specific funds to buildings in the Building IQ program — a city program prompting buildings to track their energy and water use. 

At the moment, she said the nonprofit is focused on upfront cost barriers to residents and building owners who want to improve their building’s energy efficiency. In addition, the organization hopes to address community questions about the impact residents and commercial entities can expect on their utility bill if they reduce their building emissions.

“If awarded funding from the city in 2026, we are aiming to increase the number of incentives that go out to the community here,” Stitzlein added of incentivizing property owners to reduce their building emissions.

Council members in Tuesday’s meeting generally supported CORE’s initiatives. 

“I look at what you put on the screen as being pretty significant,” Aspen Mayor Rachael Richards said.

Council member Bill Guth raised the question, however, if it would be more efficient on a global scale to plant more trees to reduce greenhouse gases globally rather than electrify buildings. 

But Council member John Doyle echoed Stitzlein’s statistic that, locally, 50% to 60% of emissions come from buildings. 

“And that’s why electrification is so important,” he said.

Stitzlein added that CORE will also seek to increase its philanthropic support by 10% in 2026 and strengthen its regional partnerships.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.