March 3, 2010
(both venues)
Building ENERGY STAR Homes
Speaker:Todd Gamboa, ENERGY STAR Homes Program Manager
With over 20 years of experience in homebuilding, Todd Gamboa has worked as an Owner, Contractor, Builder and Remodeler. His background in sales, construction, purchasing, warranty, Q/A, and customer service allows him great insight in guiding builders down the path of "High Performance".
Both of the following will take place on March 3rd:
Brownbag Lunch
First National Bank of Durango
12-1:15 PM
259 W. 9th Street (
map)
Download the Flyer
Evening Series
Empire Electric
5:30 PM- 6:45 PM
801 North Broadway
map)
Download Flyer
Selling the Benefits of ENERGY STAR Homes
Continuing Education Credits for Realtors with Todd Gamboa.- Overview of the EPA's ENERGY STAR Program.
- Understanding quality construction, indoor air quality, durability, and comfort.
- The importance of Third-Party Verification, HERS ratings, and/or energy audits.
Home Improvements and retrofits.
- Finding Energy Star rebates, tax credits, and financing.
Recognizing value in an ENERGY STAR home.
March 3rd
1:30-3:00 PM (just after the Durango Brown Bag Lunch)First National Bank of Durango
259 W. 9th Street
Download the Flyer
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Last Month to get Insulate CO Rebates
(from 4CORE) 4CORE is still administering Insulation Rebates!
Insulating your attic and/or walls and doing air sealing is the first step to lowering your utility bills and keeping WARM this winter. Attention Atmos Energy, Source Gas and Colorado Natural Gas Customers:
Atmos Energy, Source Gas and Colorado Natural Gas (CNG) are offering the
Insulate Colorado Program to gas customers. Customers of these gas utilities should download the Gas Customer Rebate Form, and submit the required paperwork directly to the listed address for processing and payment.Click here to learn more about the program if you are not a customer of the companies listed above, or download the application here.
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 2 Ways to Contribute
4CORE's Program Support Fund (PSF) and the Local Clean
Energy Fund (LCEF) are two places your contribution can make a difference. The PSF supports education, outreach, and
operations. LCEF donations go directly back into the community via
rebates and free or reduced fee services.
All donations are tax- deductible and 4CORE's Enterprise
Zone status gives you:
12.5% in-kind services Colorado tax credit for professional services for which you normally charge
fees
25% Colorado tax credit for $100 or more in cash
donations
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 Support the Green Scene, an Evening out at the Expo
Become a Row Host or donate food to this event. Auden Schendler, Author of Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution gives the keynote speech for the 4Corners Green Expo. This event will benefit the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and the Sustainability Alliance of Southwest Colorado (SASCO).
Download the Row Host flyerDownload the Food Donation flyer
See the web page
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Greetings!
It seems that with the thawing of the winter snow things are starting to flow: Grant funds are becoming available, new jobs are blooming, and before you know it, the sun will be back for 12 hours per day to melt snow, heat water for solar thermal systems, and to generate power through photovoltaic cells.
4CORE is looking forward to the spring thaw. Read on to learn about how jobs are being created in Colorado (and at 4CORE!), a sure way to keep warm this March!
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Jobs, Bids & Contractor Opportunities
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GEO Rebate Webinars for Industry Professionals
 Please note that these are NOT for the general public, but aimed at contractors and industry professionals. In
preparation for the rebate program launching March 31st, the GEO will hold a series of webinars for
industry professionals. The GEO strongly recommends that industry
representatives planning on participating attend the
appropriate webinar listed below.
The following webinars are for professionals to learn more
about the Governor's Energy Office Rebate Program, including:
·
Rebate criteria and levels
·
Requirements for industry professionals
·
Timeline for the GEO rebate program
The webinar format will include a
presentation and discussion. The total meeting length will range from one to
one and half hours. Webinar for Wind and Solar Professionals
Thursday, March 4 9:30-10:00 am
The Governor's Energy Office webinar will provide details of the
energy audit requirements for residential and commercial applicants wishing to
receive a rebate for a wind, solar PV, or solar thermal system.
Residential Appliance Manufacturing and Retailing Professionals
Friday, March 5
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Solar PV and Solar Thermal Professionals
Monday, March 15
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Residential Energy AuditorsTuesday, March 16
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Wind ProfessionalsWednesday, March 17
9:00 am - 10:30 am
Residential Mechanical and Plumbing ProfessionalsThursday, March 18
9:00 am - 10:30
Residential Insulation and Air Sealing ProfessionalsFriday, March 19
9:00 am - 10:30 am |
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GEO Grants Distributing ARRA Funds
Please click here to view a full list of available grants. Note: this timeline is subject to change; grants may be pushed back to
later dates, but will not open earlier. Wind for Schools Grant Mid-March
The Wind for Schools Program engages rural school teachers and students
in wind energy education and educates college students about wind
energy applications Selected host schools receive a small 1.8 kW wind
turbine to provide students with a concrete example of how wind energy
works, while allowing for an exciting hands-on educational opportunity
using state-of-the-art technology. Eligible applicants are schools
districts located in Colorado that can demonstrate decent wind
resources, excellent curriculum inclusion and project sustainability.
Biomass Feasibility Analysis Grant Mid-March
Funding will be made available for the purchase of equipment* as well
as the completion of feasibility studies, permitting processes,
technology reviews and economic analysis for woody biomass projects.
Eligible applicants include local governments, school districts,
non-profit entities, Colorado owned businesses and utilities. * Funding for equipment is pending air quality approval from EPA and state regulatory agencies.
Solar For Non-Profits Grant Mid-March
Funding for solar domestic hot water and solar electric projects for
non-profit entities that provide services to a population with 60% of
residents at or below the Colorado Median Income Level.
Geothermal Advanced Project Development Grant Mid-March
Funding for geothermal projects in any stage of development, from
feasibility analysis to commissioning. Eligible applicants include
local governments independent contractors with demonstrated experience
in geothermal development and/or with the support of experts in
geothermal energy.
Please see the Governor's Energy Office Funding website for more information. |
CO Energy Jobs Summit
 On February 19th, 4CORE joined U.S. Senator Mark Udall, Energy Secretary Dr. Steven Chu, and other Coloradans and national
leaders, for a conversation about energy jobs and the new energy
economy in the West.
The day included panel discussions, expanding energy opportunities, jobs created by the energy economy, and a live 9NEWS broadcast question and answer session, available here. Take-home messagesWhen asked the secret to his success, Wayne Gretzki stated that he doesn't skate to where the puck is, but where it will be.In
striving for efficiency, we've created wealth without jobs (in factories,
farms, etc.) and this is a problem we now have to remedy in order to recover
from the recent economic downturn. Some of the initiatives underway to create new jobs include: - The American Reinvestment and Recovery
Act is providing $80 billion to create 2-2.4 million jobs.
- Raising mileage standards, toughening and
enforcing Energy Star appliance standards, and creating building standards like Energy Star.
- 25% reduction in industrial energy intensity over 10 years (with time to allow for industry to ease into this).
- Tax credits for energy efficiency work to homes and businesses.
- Energy Storage development ("hot spinning reserves"
needed currently) by integrating hydro with
electric storage and generating "out of the box" ideas through the Advanced Research Projects Agency ($400M in grants the first 2 years for transformative energy
research).
- 20% of advanced
batteries will be made in the US by 2015.
- Increasing Colorado's Renewable Energy Standard to 30% by 2020.
There was also much discussion about putting a price on carbon (or a declining cap) in order to create
market incentive and enable private capital and investing to flow into the green job sector.
Many existing companies that specialize in LED lighting, solar, wind, energy efficiency home building, and farmers who
would sequester carbon from the soil would immediately accelerate spending on energy efficiency if a declining carbon cap
ensues. 4-5% more jobs would be created than by just creating an "Energy Bill". Click here for more information. More information on the Colorado Energy Jobs Summit can be found here.
" I really care about the future because
that is where I'll spend the rest of my life" - Charlie Chaplin
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As always, if you have any feedback or questions about how to become more energy efficient, please contact us.
Regards,
Your 4CORE Conservation Partners
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