Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)

For nearly 25 years, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) has championed energy efficiency and clean energy solutions across Colorado and the Southwest. Through advocacy, partnerships, and innovative initiatives, SWEEP has helped Colorado lead the way in addressing the climate crisis by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the electric grid, advancing electric vehicles (EVs), and supporting comfortable, efficient homes featuring electric appliances. Our efforts in Colorado have strengthened energy efficiency standards, promoted cleaner transportation options, and ensured that income-qualified households can benefit from the clean energy transition. Below are some of SWEEP's proud accomplishments that continue to make Colorado a model for sustainable energy and environmental stewardship. With your donation, we can continue tackling the challenges ahead, driving impactful solutions for a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable Colorado. Thanks to a generous donor, all Colorado Gives donations made to SWEEP up to $25,000 will be matched, doubling your impact.

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN COLORADO

• Building electrification: SWEEP has played a key role in advancing building electrification in Colorado, including co-leading the Beneficial Electrification League of Colorado and developing the LoveElectric.org platform to educate residents on electrification and connect them with qualified contractors and rebates.
• EV initiatives: SWEEP's advocacy led to Colorado adopting over a dozen laws promoting EV adoption, including charging requirements in new residential and commercial buildings to help make EVs accessible to more Coloradans.
• Increased funding for public transit and active mobility: SWEEP has successfully advocated for more funding for public transit and programs supporting biking and walking, helping reduce emissions and improve mobility in Colorado.
• Clean heat: With prompting from SWEEP and our partners, Colorado became the first state in the nation to pass legislation requiring gas utilities to reduce carbon emissions, leading to a $430 million investment by Xcel to implement a Clean Heat Plan to slash climate pollution, largely through energy efficiency and building electrification.
• Climate-friendly transportation planning: SWEEP convinced the Colorado Transportation Commission to integrate state climate targets into transportation planning, resulting in over $1 billion redirected toward sustainable mobility instead of highway expansion in its first few years.
• Clean vehicle standards: With SWEEP's advocacy, Colorado adopted the Advanced Clean Truck and Clean Car II standards to reduce pollution and ensure at least 82% of new vehicle sales are EVs by 2032. This policy will prevent hundreds of millions of metric tons of CO₂ emissions while ensuring Coloradans have more EV models to choose from.
• Enhanced efficiency standards: SWEEP’s leadership led Colorado to adopt minimum energy and water efficiency standards for 28 residential and commercial appliances and products as a way to slash energy waste and provide consumers with better options.
• Support for underserved communities: SWEEP successfully advocated for state funding to support energy efficiency and electrification upgrades in low-income homes. These programs provide crucial support to income-qualified households and historically underserved communities through health and safety improvements and incentives for EVs and EV charging.

RECENT PRESS RELEASES

• CDOT Commission adopts new safety, climate, and multimodal transportation goals to guide their upcoming 10 year plan
• Colorado and the Denver Metro win $328 Million in federal grants to reduce pollution, protect climate, advance efficiency
• Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) and Executive Director Elise Jones honored as Conservation Colorado’s “Partner Of The Year”
• Xcel’s Clean Heat Plan approved with major climate wins

SWEEP IN THE NEWS

• Xcel efficiency rebate program resumes after regulators OK money transfer from 2025 budget
• Colorado, Federal boulevards will follow Colfax for Denver bus rapid transit expansion
• CDOT commission adopts new safety, climate, and multimodal transportation goals
• Colorado’s largest power utility gets green light for $440 million “clean heat” investments