Breckenridge parking and sustainability manager Jessie Burley was appointed to the state’s Energy Code Board on Jan. 8.

The creation of this board came out of a law passed in the 2022 Colorado General Assembly legislative session that sought to bring together different interest groups, appointed by the energy office and the Department of Local Affairs, to develop building codes. Its purpose is to update energy codes for buildings to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. 

A vacancy for a rural, local government seat left by a representative in Crested Butte opened up an opportunity for Burley to join the board. 

“I really look forward to helping shape the future of building codes in Colorado,” Burley said.

Burley explained the Colorado Energy Office was looking for someone from a similar type of community and somebody that represents climate Zone 7.

Counties in climate Zone 7 include: Clear Creek, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Jackson, Lake, Mineral, Park, Pitkin, Rio Grande, Routt, San Juan, and Summit counties.

She said the board is responsible for delivering to the legislature a recommendation on their statutory requirements for energy codes.

She said there was a previous iteration of this board that created a model electric-ready and solar-ready code for the state. Its recommended codes were published this past summer. She described this iteration of the board as “Phase 2” and said its objective is to create a model low-energy and low-carbon code. The state mandates that the board adopt a code by June 1, 2025.