Eco-friendly elements improve operating efficiency at new aquatic facilities
Coloradans who love to swim, splash, and soak with a view of Mount Sopris will soon do all three more sustainably at a new Carbondale Aquatics Center, scheduled to open in May 2026. The Western Slope’s first all-electric aquatic facility replaces a crumbling, vinyl-lined 1970s-era pool, fulfilling long-term goals within the town’s parks master plan.
Carbondale trustees and staff, including Parks & Recreation Director Eric Brendlinger, chose to pursue sustainable solutions that capitalize on the 300 days of sunshine this mountain community enjoys. In 2008, Carbondale installed 288 solar panels on the roof of its certified LEED Platinum Recreation and Community Center. Designing a new, $9-million aquatic facility presented an opportunity to think even more ambitiously. Local architecture firm Land+Shelter collaborated with sustainability consultants to create plans for a more accessible, universal-design concept with net-zero-ready mechanical components.
“It's a forward-thinking small town when it comes to climate goals and electrification of public buildings,” Brendlinger says. "We are cognizant of our energy use and how we use taxpayer dollars to build public facilities. If you do things right, you can save money on long-term operations.”
