Arapahoe Libraries reached a new sustainability milestone this year. The district was named a Colorado Green Business Network certified gold member, one of 46 organizations honored for sustainability excellence.
Sustainability is a guiding principle for Arapahoe Libraries as stewards of public resources. The district had been recognized as a CGBN silver member for four years previously and honored with an Innovation Spotlight Award. This latest achievement reflects large-scale changes that are now part of our daily operations.
2024 highlights:
- Last year, we replaced 22,700 square feet of turf with drought-tolerant landscaping at Koelbel, Sheridan and Smoky Hill libraries, creating more outdoor spaces and play areas and incorporating pollinator-friendly landscapes. In 2025, these locations saw a reduction in water consumption of over 20%.
- During construction and remodels, we repurposed and donated nearly nine tons of furniture and equipment and recycled 159 tons of concrete and metal.
- We built on existing energy and water savings, waste reduction and community equity projects, ensuring long-term resource and cost savings.
These efforts are driven by staff and embraced by the community:
- New “Green Teams” (dedicated staff volunteers) lead recycling, and composting programs within library branches.
- Externally, collaboration with City of Centennial, City of Sheridan and Arapahoe County, and partnerships with organizations such as Green Standards, Habitat for Humanity and Goodwill, extend our reach and impact.
To learn more, see the Arapahoe Libraries 2024 Sustainability Impact Report.