 REAP Products
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Partner Events
Noel Night, brought to you by Local First. Drop by the 4CORE Holiday Open House from 3-6 PM, and then head down to Main Street for shopping and entertainment!
Dec. 2, 2011, 9 AM-8 PM
Learn more here
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Contribute to 4CORE
Get involved by donating to continue the good work 4CORE is doing in Southwest Colorado! As an Enterprise Zone project and 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the benefits of donating to 4CORE include:
- A 12.5% Colorado tax credit for providing professional services for which you normally charge fees
- A 25% Colorado tax credit for $100 or more in cash donations
- A Federal tax deduction
- A hand in reducing greenhouse gas emissions locally
- The opportunity to extend your reach as 4CORE collaborates with government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits, and the community-at-large
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Submit Your News and Events
4CORE will publish resource- related events, training, and news, as appropriate. If you have article suggestions or would like to submit content or images, please email us. |
Thank you Coalition Partners! 
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Join Our Mailing List!
Energy News you Can Use is published monthly
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Resource News You Can Use
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Thank you!
4CORE is grateful this holiday season for the community support and partnership we are a part of here in Southwest Colorado. There are good things coming from the work we are able to do as a result of your help:
- Nationwide, the Weatherization program is ranked 7th out of approximately 200 federal programs in the number of direct jobs created or retained. See the stats here. 4CORE's weatherization program has contributed to creating over 32 highly skilled jobs in our region.
- The new and improved 4CORE web site is now live, with easier-to-navigate pages and links and resources for residents, businesses and contractors. A special thanks goes out to Scott Kadera for all his volunteer time on the new site!
To show our appreciation for this local support, 4CORE invites you to our Holiday Open House. Read on for details!
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4CORE Open House
Visit our new office, enjoy refreshments, and more! 
Before shopping at Noel Night, head up the street and grab a snack at the 4CORE Office for our Holiday Open House.
Friday, Dec. 2nd from 3-6 PM
835 E. 2nd Ave, Room 444
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Did You Know?
 In addition, this holdiay season, you can save even more by doing the following: - Switch to LED Christmas Lights. LED Christmas lights use 90% less electricity than regular Christmas lights, and can be purchased for around $10 a strand. Learn more
- Fiber optic decorations and trees are the ultimate in energy efficiency. In most cases, they use a single light bulb located in the base of the unit to light the entire decoration - now that's energy smart and budget smart!
- Limit the time lights are on - wait until dark to turn on your Christmas lights; then, turn them off before you go to bed. Six hours or less of daily use is a good goal to aim for. Do you have trouble remembering to turn your lights on and off? Then set a timer and forget about it.
- Turn off room lights when the tree is lit. The lights on your Christmas tree should provide more than enough lighting to navigate around the room.
- Decorate with candles. Christmas lights are nice, but so are candles. Set up luminaries along your walkway and lit candles throughout your home to achieve a beautiful holiday glow, without adding to the electric bill.
- Turn the thermostat down when you have guests. Extra bodies in the house means extra warmth at no cost to you.
- Buy gifts that don't use electricity or batteries. According to Energy Quest, 40% off all batteries are purchased during the holiday season. That's a lot of money spent on batteries, and a lot of energy used! Make a pledge to buy energy-free gifts, and skip the expense entirely.
- Invest in rechargeable batteries and a charger. If you buy or receive gifts that require batteries, consider purchasing rechargeable batteries and a charger. Recent advancements have made rechargeable batteries better than ever.
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 Energy to Evolve:
Tracking Energy Use on Weatherized Homes
A blog post by Intern Crystal Kelly
As an intern for 4CORE I've been given an important task. It is called the Energy Tracking Project. The Energy Tracking Project is a comprehensive look at energy usage on previously weatherized homes in five counties in southwest Colorado. This study will research homes before and after weatherization to find actual energy savings. Why is this important?
Click here to read on... |
Energy Webinar Series
Home Energy Efficiency: Cost Effective Improvements for CO
December 14, 2011 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm MT Learn how energy is used in Colorado homes, where easy savings can be found, and what energy improvements might make sense for your home. Presented by Cary Weiner, CSU Extension Clean Energy Specialist. Small Wind Energy Basics
January 11, 2012 from 12:00 to 1:00pm MT
In this webinar, you will learn about the basics of wind energy, including how to determine whether you have a good wind resource, how to site a turbine, as well as cost and paybacks. Presented by Irene Shonle, CSU Extension Gilpin County Director. Registration links can be found under Hot Topics on this web page |
Free Energy Code Workshops
Lunch Provided!
IECC, What's Coming Next
Dec 16, 10-4 pm
Durango Recreation Center - Eolus Room
ASHRAE 90.1
January 20th, 10-4 pm
Durango Recreation Center - Eolus Room
To register, click here
Download the flyer for details |
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Challenge Question
State the difference between Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) and Steady State efficiency (SSE).
Send responses and win an energy saving prize!
Last month's Question and Answer:
What is the difference between open vs. sealed combustion appliances?
The answer is:
Open combustion appliances burn air from the room in which they reside. Sealed combustion appliances burn air from outside and have no openings into the living space. Sealed systems are safer and provide improved air quality for occupants.
The winner is Barry Goldberg! |
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As always, if you have any feedback or questions about becoming more energy efficient, please contact us. |
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