Partner Events this Month:
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Blog Teaser
What d oes five acres of land, eight mouths to feed, and a dedication to conscious living sound like to you? Potential. Heather Wyatt and her seven housemates are bringing living things together to work and live at their highest potential while benefiting from their interaction. It all started with the desire to eat local, organic food. You can get a lot of local, organic food, but not everything, all the time. Also, buying organic can become expensive and on a budget it's hard to grab the $1.99 pepper that's sitting next to the $0.99 pepper...
Read more on our blog Energy to Evolve
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Resource & Energ y Action Plan August Roundtable Meeting On Thursday, August 4th at LPEA we will be hosting a community wide roundtable meeting to initiate the implementation process of the REAP. Community members from the arts and culture as well as health care sectors have now been invited to represent these two aspects of our community at this meeting. The addition of these two components are a great example of the REAP's dynamic capabilities to adjust to the communtie's needs. For more information, please contact info@fourcore.org.
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Newsletter Challenge Question
La Plata County has adopted the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Based upon this code for new residential construction -What is the minimum allowable insulation, in R-value required in the attic? What is the minimum allowable wall R-value?
The first person to correctly answer this question will win an energy saving prize from 4CORE. Prizes and winners to be announced in next month's newsletter. Send responses by August 20th!
Get your answers in quickly to win!
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OSHA 10 Training and
Certification
There are just a few spots left in the Construction Safety Training and Certification course. The course will provide basic awareness training on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of workplace hazards. The course also provides information regarding workers' rights, employer responsibilities, and filing a complaint.
Who should attend? Weatherization crews, energy auditors, construction crews
When: 8am-5pm on Tues. August 2nd AND 8am - 12pm on Wed, August 3rd. You must attend both days to receive your OSHA 10 card.
Where: Durango Public Library
Program Room #2
Fee: $125/person (includes lunch on Tuesday)
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More Fun Info
The average American
lifestyle is kept afloat
by nearly 2,000 gallons
of H2O a day-twice the
global average.
What is your water
footprint? Learn more here;
Calculate Your Water Usage
Here are some great tips that can help you save money during the hot days of the summer months.
Discover Great Summer Energy Savings
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Energy News you Can Use is published monthly
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Resource News You Can Use
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Summer is a great time to be living in Southwest Colorado. We hope everyone is enjoying their summer and everything that Southwest Colorado has to offer this season. As the temperatures heat up, it is a great reminder to weatherize your home to keep as cool as possible during these hot summer days! |
News on 4CORE Changes
Moving Forward
 July is a time of transition for us, as we close out the Weatherization program year, thank our outgoing board members, and welcome our new board members. We would like to thank the following board members for their hard work and dedication to 4CORE;
Chad Tidwell (Outgoing Board Chair)
Ed Zink (Outgoing Vice Chair)
Brad Broyles (Outgoing Treasurer)
Mark Williams (City of Durango)
Also, we would like to thank Aileen Tracy, former Executive Director.
We welcome the following as new board members:
Rebecca Kauffman - (Alternative Energy Professional)
Shannon South - (Dean of the Southwest Colorado Community College, West Campus)
Dan Stalker - (Architect)
Bruce Baizel - (Attorney)
Greg Munro - (LPEA CEO) - Alternate (Mark Schwantes, Head of Member Services, LPEA)
Kevin Hall (City of Durango Director of Natural Lands, Trails, and Sustainability)
We would also like to announce the following staff promotions and new hires.
Gregg Dubit - Interim Executive Director (former Weatherization Manager)
Kirk Coppinger - Interim Weatherization Manager (former Weatherization Assistant Manager & Inspector)
Tim DeLuca - Interim Weatherization Inspector (former Weatherization Apprentice Crew Leader for Southwest Conservation Corps)
Don McCord - Interim NEAT & MHEA technician (former Weatherization Intern via SER Jobs for Progress)
Claire Ninde - Weatherization Leveraging Coordinator
In addition, the new Southwest Conservation Corps crew has begun working in the Weatherization program. Welcome Trevor Jackson, Iona Cooper, Tucker Hancock, Rachel Mays, and Crew Leader Adam Dalrymple!
For more information, please contact info@fourcore.org |
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La Plata County, CO receives $500k
To reduce greenhouse gases, protect health and support local businesses
 La Plata County is a recipient of $500K through the EPA's Climate Showcase Communities (CSC) Grant Program. La Plata County's project aims to build capacity and create lasting change by: reducing vehicle miles traveled, increasing the production and consumption of local food, using innovative technologies to provide unique educational opportunities for K-8th graders, and by increasing efficiency in the workplace through the Resource Smart Business Program.
Project partners include 4CORE, SUCAP, the Durango Discovery Museum, Local First, FLC Environmental Center, SWConnect, Healthy Community Food Systems, and Healthy Lifestyle La Plata.
"La Plata County's community-directed program is a collaborative, grassroots response to climate change," said Jim Martin, EPA's Regional Administrator in Denver. "This model for creating resilient rural communities can be repeated across the country by those working to reduce greenhouse gases and improve economic vitality."
The Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program is administered by the EPA's State and Local Climate and Energy program, which provides technical assistance, tools, and guidance to help state, local, and tribal governments implement policies and programs to mitigate climate change.
More information on the grants and the grant recipients:
http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/local/showcase/ |
Latest on Rebates
Check out the rebate offers from our local energy providers
 Atmos Energy's Reduce and Rebate Program
Excess Is Out Rebate Program Link
Empire Electric Association's
Energy Efficiency Credit Program Link
LPEA Rebate Program
Rebates and Credits Link
Source Gas
Excess Is Out Link
Recharge Colorado
All rebate funds for ENERGY STAR appliances have been reserved and applications are no longer being accepted for this rebate program.
Additional funding may become available for this program in the future; please check back to see if funds are available.
http://rebate.rechargecolorado.com/Appliancechoice.aspx
Energy Efficiency Rebates
Status: Open in Southwest Colorado
Insulation, air sealing, and furnaces partially closed. Energy audits, duct sealing, energy monitors, & energy star homebuilder programs
OPEN STATEWIDE. Funding for insulation and air sealing rebates is also available to San Miguel Power Association customers.
Energy Audits
Status: Open in Southwest Colorado
The energy audit rebate program has $54,300 available and is open to accepting reservations statewide. San Miguel Power Association has $3,825 available.
Duct Sealing
Status: OPEN in Soutwest Colorado
The duct sealing rebate program has $6,725 available and is open to accepting reservations statewide.
Energy Monitors
Status: OPEN in Southwest Colorado
The energy monitor rebate program has $2,475 available and is open to accepting reservations statewide.
Renewable Energy Rebates
Status: Waitlist Statewide
All residentail and commerical renewable energy rebate programs
WAITLIST statewide. Partner funds still available.
There may be other rebates available to you! The GEO has collected the most comprehensive resource of energy-related rebates and incentives available anywhere; use this tool to find Recharge Colorado rebates, federal and local incentives, and offers from manufacturers and retailers. Your search will also enable you to find Better Business Bureau (BBB) listed and accredited contractors from throughout the state.
Click here to find rebates, incentives, and contractors
or call 4CORE if you have any questions or need assistance. |
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Colorado State University Extension Office News
New Master's Program Announced
Five Colorado State University Extension offices across the state - including La Plata County - are now offering a new Colorado Energy Master program to educate Coloradans and support volunteers interested in energy issues. Participants can take one or more three-week courses on Energy and the Environment, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy.
Courses include hands-on learning experiences and short field trips. They are targeted for home and small business owners interested in saving energy and money, educators, realtors, recent college graduates, and retirees. Each course offers Continuing Education credits through both the Green Building Certification Institute and the Colorado Real Estate Commission.
Aspiring Colorado Energy Masters take all three courses at a reduced cost and can volunteer in a number of ways - from conducting basic home energy assessments to educating neighbors and friends.
For more information and to register for fall courses, please visit www.ext.colostate.edu/energymaster or stop by the extension office.
If you have a disability for which you seek an accommodation, please contact your county extension office no less than five days before classes begin.
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Pueblo Community College (PCC)
Commerical Energy Auditor Training Scholarships
PCC is pleased to announce a new training opportunity in this region. This 40-hour course will prepare facility and plant managers, residential energy auditors and other professionals to conduct energy audits, improve facility operations practice, reduce facility operating costs, and apply for energy incentives on commercial buildings. Much of this course will be hands-on and participants will complete a full commercial energy audit on a building in downtown Cortez. Topics taught will be: lighting, motors and drives; water and utility use; heating, cooling, and ventilation systems; heat pumps and hot water systems; and overall building envelope. Participants must be proficient in Microsoft Excel and have completed an OSHA-10 Construction certification.
To register for this training and apply for a scholarship:
1)Register as a Job Seeker with Connecting Colorado (www.connectingcolorado.com)
2)Apply for Energy Scholarship at the Durango Workforce Center
331 South Camino Del Rio,
(970) 247-0308, next to Office Depot.
Bring your Social Security Card, State-issued Driver's License/ ID, and OSHA-10 card.
Take Excel proficiency test at Workforce Center (online tutorial available at: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel-help/CH010224830.aspx)
3) Register for OSHA-10 Construction training if you don't already have it (Only one spot left). 4CORE is hosting an OSHA training session:
Training Dates for the Commercial Energy Auditor training: September 12-16, 8:00-5:00
Cost: Scholarships Available
OSHA-10 Course: Aug. 2, 8-5pm & Aug. 3, 8-12pm
Cost: $125 (includes Tues. lunch)
Location: Durango Library
Commercial Auditor Training Registrations
Leana Jaramillo, Southwest CO Community College (970) 564. 6222 Lena.Jaramilo@Pueblocc.edu
OSHA Registration Cori Andreatta, 4CORE (970) 259.1916
Cori@fourcore.org |
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Pueblo Community College
Solar Energy Training
INTRO TO SOLAR PV TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION EXAM
Are you interested in learning solar or want to explore working in the green industry? This course will cover basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of grid-tied and stand-alone PV Systems. This course will prepare individuals for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Enery Level examination. Participants will receive hands-on instruction and practice at the college's new solar lab.
Training: October 18-19, 8:00-5:00
NSBCEP Certification Exam: Oct. 20
Location: Mancos Campus, Southwest Colorado Community College
Scholarship Requirements:
Participants must demonstrate reading and math proficiency before taking NABCEP exam (see below).
Participants must demonstrate how this training will help them advance in their jobs or obtain new jobs and will need to complete a follow-up survey in approximately six months.
To register for this training and apply for a scholarship:
1.) Register as a Job Seeker with Connecting Colorado (connectingcolorado.com)
2.) Apply for Green Jobs Scholarship at the Durango Workforce Center, 331 South Camino Del Rio, (970) 247-0308, next to Office Depot. Bring your Social Security Card and State-issued Driver's License/ID.
3.) Take reading and math placement (Accuplacer) exam ($10 cost) by September 15th at either campus of Southwest Colorado Community College (www.enrollsouthwest.org). Provide Accuplacer results to Lena Jaramillo at the college. 4.) Complete scholarship questionnaire on following page and return to Lena.Jaramillo@Pueblocc.edu by September 15, 2011.
Questions:
Lena Jamamillo, Southwest CO Community College
(970)5654.6222
Lena.Jaramillo@Pueblocc.edu
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As always, if you have any feedback or questions about how to become more energy efficient, please contact us. |
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