WHISTLER, B.C. - Municipal officials in Whistler have opened up the check book to reduce energy costs at a local recreation center. The energy bill at the Meadow Park Sports Centre annually runs $220,000. But by spending $1 million, city officials hope to reduce the annual energy bill to $20,000 to $45,000.

The money will be used to install photovoltaic panels and a geoexchange system, which draws heat from the earth in winter and coolness in summer.

Two years ago, the city spent $77,000 at the same facility to install more efficient lighting systems and occupancy sensors, which turn off the lights when rooms are vacant.

In 2007, Whistler adopted the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2012.The municipality's adopted strategy has been to reduce emissions and, when that's not possible, purchase carbon offsets. No word on how likely Whistler is to achieve that goal.

Composting facility turns soiled to soil

WHISTLER, B.C. - Bags from Whistler's composting factory have been snatched up by customers, even though it's selling at a much higher price — $35 per cubic yard — compared to the compost sold in Vancouver, only $13 a yard.

The $13.7 million composting station was opened in December by the city government, which hopes to substantially reduce and perhaps eliminate altogether the amount of trash it hauls to a landfill in the Columbia River Valley between Oregon and Washington.

Energy plan done, but will it just collect dust?

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. - At great length, an energy plan has been assembled for Crested Butte. Among other measures, the plan calls for government-sponsored audits of homes to identify ways to improve energy efficiency. Another would have a local organization, the Office of Resource Efficiency, collaborating with the school district to develop an energy efficiency curriculum.

But hold on, says Susan Parker, the town manager. Adopt this and the public will have expectations to follow through, she said. “I encourage you to really review this and have a plan on how to deal if the money is not available to implement the projects,” she added.

Alan Bernholtz, the mayor, does want to proceed. “I don't want to just pay lip service to the idea of energy efficiency in Crested Butte,” he said at a recent meeting. “We have a chance to put our lips to the pavement and actually do something. This is a great thing for the community. It is an energy road map to follow.”