When it comes to renewable energy, Bethke Elementary in Louisville, Colorado is as green — and gold — as can be.

Located about 10 miles southeast of Boulder, the school has been recognized as one of the greenest school in the country, compiling a sustainable report card of achievements that includes: three Green Globe awards; a LEED Gold for Schools certification; and an A+ (99 out of 100) in environmental friendliness from Energy Star.

The school’s latest move is the installation of a new solar energy system courtesy of Bella Energy, a Colorado solar installer. The local installer donated $10,000 toward the new system, which will allow the school to solar power 11 percent of its energy needs. To celebrate Earth Day, the school unveiled the new 90-panel system at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. The system is expected to save more than 50,000 pounds annually of carbon dioxide from polluting the rocky mountain air.

Bethke Elementary has demonstrated its commitment to renewable energy measures since 2008, when it became the first school to benefit from Colorado’s Renewable Schools program, with help from Trees, Water & People (TWP), a Fort Collins, Colorado-based non-profit aiming to “protect, conserve and manage the natural resources.”

Learn more about TWP’s Renew the Rockies Program and how they have worked to install renewable energy systems at Colorado elementary schools.