Sustainability Initiatives

BRIEF HISTORY

In 1991, Center for the Arts received a $1,000 grant from the Community Foundation with a vision of a forever home for artistic pursuit and collaboration in Jackson Hole, safe from the rising cost of living and an increasingly competitive rental market. The vision came to life in 2007 with the completion of a 78,000 square foot shared campus that would protect and showcase creative endeavors for years to come.

In the decade that has followed, Center for the Arts has gone beyond its initial scope taking extensive measures to “green” the facility. Over the life of these conservation projects, The Center has saved the emissions equal to what 110 cars produce annually.

These measures would not be possible without The Center’s incredible facilities maintenance team and their partners at Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, Lower Valley Energy and Energy Conservation Works. With their help, Center for the Arts is doing its part to protect the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem for generations to come.

SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES

100% GREEN POWER
Thanks to Energy Conservation Works and Lower Valley Energy’s Green Power Program, Center for the Arts is able to run their business on 100% Local Green Power generated by Horse Butte Wind Farm (ID), Pleasant Valley Wind Farm (WY) and micro-hydro projects on Strawberry Creek (WY) and Swift Creek (WY). By making the switch, The Center ensures that the energy use in the facility is carbon neutral and regionally produced. Sign your home or business up for green power here.

RECYCLING AND WASTE
Center for the Arts received a grant from Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling through the Community Partnerships grant process. This money went towards the installation of recycling receptacles throughout the building, educational efforts and signage. These actions coupled together were key. Though they had a greater capacity for recycling, educating tenants and visitors led to better sorting and break down of recycling thus cutting back pickups from three times a week to once per week, both saving carbon emissions and money.

With the installation of refillable water stations throughout the building, Center for the Arts has cut back plastic water bottle usage enormously. The next time you’re here for a show, bring your own!

Art Association of Jackson Hole, a Resident of the building, has also contributed to decreasing waste on campus through the installation of a dishwasher. This addition has made the use of reusable cups, plates, and flatware possible during community events in the space.

RRR BUSINESS LEADER
In 2015, Center for the Arts was recognized for its efforts in sustainability by Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, meeting the requirements for a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Business leader in the community.

LED LIGHTING
Like Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling, Lower Valley Energy partnered with Center for the Arts to complete an $88,000 lighting project, replacing all non-theatre lighting with LED bulbs. LEDs are incredibly efficient, using 75% less energy than incandescents and lasting 25 times longer. Lower Valley Energy is committed to helping local businesses with efficiency initiatives. Find out more here.

BOILER SYSTEM AND HVAC
Sometimes it really is as simple as turning down the thermostat. Center for the Arts decreased their natural gas usage by turning down the heat in the winter, and powering off the boilers in the summer, saving over 45,600 therms in 10 years. This is the carbon emissions equivalent of taking 51 cars off of the road.
Using the $60,000 savings from turning down the heat, The Center installed a new HVAC controls system that made Residents and guests more comfortable during events and performances and saved even more energy, a win-win.