BoCo Going Green

Since we’re no good at metric conversions, we have trouble figuring out how much dirty air 12 metric tons of carbon dioxide really is. According to Boulder County, it’s the equivalent of powering five moderately-sized homes a year. Or if you’re talking office space, it’s the amount of pollution that comes from lighting 90 typical fluorescent office light fixtures 10 hours per day, five days a week for a year. We’re happy that’s cleared up, and so is the air around the county courthouse. Last month, it unveiled a new 46-panel solar power system that will take those pesky 12 metric tons of pollution out of the air each year. Even better, the system will begin powering four plug-in hybrid cars that the county will buy in 2008 that will get 100 miles to the gallon. Now it’s not enough to save the world, but it’s nice to see a government taking the lead and setting a green example.