Partner Events
Habitat for HumanityToolkit Series: Healthy Home and Green Cleaning Tips
July 24, 7-8 PM
Durango Public Library
Home Buyers Class
Regional Housing Alliance (RHA)
Thursday, July 12th
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Saturday, July 14th
8:30 am -1:30 PM
4CORE will present info on the 9th on how to make improvements and save money on bills.
Call for location and to sign up: 970.259.1418
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Energy Audit Resources for Southwest Colorado
La Plata Electric Association
Offers a free walk-through electrical assessment of your home or business. Call 970.247.5786 to set up an appointment.
Empire Electric Association
Pays 50% up to $500 of your professional Energy Audit. Contact one of the auditors
listed here (.pdf) to schedule your audit.
San Miguel Power Association Offers a free walk-through electrical assessment of your home or business. They also have rebates on audits if recommended measures are installed after the audit. - $75 for one measure
- $150 for two or more measures
More info at Recharge Colorado
Local Energy Auditors
A list of local auditors can be found here:
Residential
Commercial
Don't forget to check out the Home Prescription (HomeRx) program, which kicks off with an audit done by local auditors.
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Sponsor Opportunities
Sponsorship provides a direct channel of communication for companies and organizations to connect with the community. Your support creates heightened awareness of energy efficiency in our community and helps educate local residents and builders about the benefits for saving energy and energy costs. Below are 4CORE's current sponsorship opportunities:
Home Performance Prescription (HomeRx)
Seeking sponsors to launch our HomeRx program through a HomeRx Makeover Contest.
Email or call Gregg at 970-259-1916 ext. 114 to contribute in any of the following ways:
- supplies for home upgrades (insulation, caulk, etc)
- donations at the $500, $1,000 or $2,500 level
More information here
Sustainable Building Education Program
Email or call Cori at 970-259-1916 ext 111 to contribute in any of the following ways:
- space for classes
- sponsors for lunch/snacks
- program sponsors
- trainers and speakers
- donations at the $500, $1,000 or $2,500 level
Thank you for helping our programs thrive!
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Thank You!
4CORE would like to thank the following contributors to the West Building Certification Party:
West Building Owners
Star Liquors
Steamworks Brewery
Rusted Prairie
Linda's Local Kitchen
Jeremy Rivera Energy Management
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 Energy to Evolve
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Join Our Mailing List!
Energy News you Can Use is published monthly
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Thank you
to our Partners! 
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Resource News You Can Use
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Most of us associate the word "audit" with a painful process of financial scrutiny, but we've got another take on this word, in the form of energy audits.
The US Department of Energy has stated that there is potential for energy savings in the magnitude of 90 Billion kWh by increasing home energy efficiency. The auditing process is the first step toward reducing the operating costs of any built structure by pinpointing where your house or business is losing energy. Other terms for the process, depending on how rigorous it is, include "walk through" or "assessment."
Learn more about how you can begin the process of saving money on utility bills for your home or business by reading more below. |
Did You Know?
The Benefits of Energy Audits 
- Lowering your energy bills - Your assessment report will prioritize recommended cost effective measures to ensure your home runs more efficiently.
- Increase the comfort level of your home - Your home is your castle and you want to spend quality time in it with your family. What you don't want is to feel too hot or too cold, or generally unwell.
- Increase your home's resale value and marketability - For every $1 decrease in annual energy costs, the market value of a home increases by $20, according to a study published in the Appraisal Journal. If you decrease your energy costs by $300 per year, the value of your home increases by $6,000. Furthermore, homes that are more energy efficient are more attractive to potential buyers, who know the value of lower energy costs and higher home comfort levels.
- Uncover hidden problems - There may be problems that have gone unnoticed, such as improper ventilation that is encouraging the growth of mold or mildew. A home energy audit will point these out, enabling you to take action before the problem gets out of hand.
- Protect the environment - Did you know that 16% of greenhouse gases generated in the United States come from residential homes? By getting an energy audit and making your home energy efficient, you can feel good about the fact that you're doing your part to help make a better America for all of us.
- A wise investment - Buying your home is one of the biggest investments you'll ever make. When you invest in energy saving measures, you can expect a return of around 16% per year, after taking into account the money you spent on the improvements. As energy prices rise, so will your return on investment. In today's economy, that's a safer bet than the stock market!
Learn more by checking out this video from the US Department of Energy that has a some great explanations of the concepts behind energy audits!
 | | Energy 101: Home Energy Assessment |
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Energy Audits: Science, Not Guesswork
By Gregg Dubit,
4CORE Executive Director
Without an energy audit how does one decide where to put their efforts and resources in regard to energy efficiency? Many people feel that they need new windows, or new doors, or want solar panels. A professional energy audit takes the guess work out of where in your home or business energy improvements should be made. The modern energy audit utilizes state-of- the-art testing equipment including infrared camera thermography, blower door air pressure testing with very sensitive pressure testing manometers, and combustion analyzers to hone in on where energy efficiencies are lacking.
Our national testing laboratories, Oakridge Tennessee, Lawrence Berkley, California, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in Golden Colorado, have developed very sophisticated testing techniques coupled with massive data sets to build complex algorythems that accurately predict the energy savings with common upgrades like new windows, additional insualtion in the attic or walls, as well as furnace or boiler upgrades. Today's professional energy auditors are nationally certified and, through training, have developed an understanding of the home as a system. These computer modeling software applications now accurately predict the energy savings of proposed improvements.
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HomeRx Makeover Contest
Enter to Win a Free Home Energy Makeover
 How can YOU get an energy audit to start the process of saving $$$??
4CORE is hosting a HomeRx Makeover contest to launch the Home Performance Prescription Program (HomeRx), which will provide a suite of water and energy-saving services for residents in Southwest Colorado.
La Plata County homeowners compete to win:
- one (1) grand prize Home Energy Makeover, complete with comprehensive energy audit, consulting session, and home efficiency improvements, value starting at $1,500,
- one (1) second prize whole house comprehensive energy audit, valued at $600, and
- two (2) "walk through" assessments.
Winners will be selected based on the home's potential energy savings. Applications to be submitted per entry and screened by panel of judges.
Register to Win a Free Home Energy Makeover Here
Goals of the HomeRx Program:
- Educate and motivate our community toward energy efficient and healthy homes.
- Provide excellence in service and verification of quality work.
- Provide on-going jobs for the sustainable building industry workforce.
Sponsored by:
  
  
Annadel Building Solutions LLC
For more information or to sponsor this event, contact 4CORE.
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Financing Energy Efficiencies
 Options to Upgrade Your Home Pay Back Quick!
Region 9 Economic Development District, First National Bank of Durango, and Bank of Colorado are bringing low-interest loan options for businesses and homeowners to make energy efficient upgrades to reduce their energy bills. Lowering these bills makes sense (and cents) and allows savings to quickly pay back home improvement loans.
For more information, contact 4CORE, or the lending institutions below:
Business Energy Upgrade Loan
Ed Morlan
Region 9 Economic Development District
970-247-9621
email Ed
Home Energy Upgrade Loan
Kathy Burgess
First National Bank of Durango
970-247-3020
email Kathy
Power Saver Loan
Stephen Ponce-Pore
Bank of Colorado
970-679-7454
email Stephen
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Case Study of an Energy Audit
What to Expect When Getting an Audit
The day was hot when Tom arrived at the Wheeler's home 10 miles east of Durango. He pulled up in the 4CORE inspection truck (perhaps you've seen them around town?) to the 2,800 square foot home next to the Florida River. The two-story home was built in 1981 with an attached garage and crawl space.
Tom knocked on the door and introduced himself to the homeowners before pulling his equipment out of the truck. He then began the energy audit, testing for gas leaks on the water heater and furnace, checking for safe venting using a combustion analyzer and smoke puffer. Thankfully, the water heater did not downdraft and the furnace was running safely and efficiently. Tom did find an insufficient vapor barrier in the crawl space, which should be replaced to improve indoor air quality and prevent moisture from damaging the home.
Next, Tom moved on to investigate the building shell. He took measurements of insulation in the crawl space and attic and used wire probes to determine insulation levels in the walls. He also investigated all windows for single or double panes and leakiness. He used a blower door test to determine whole house air leakage and the condition of the duct system. Finally, Tom used infrared thermography and a smoke puffer with the blower door to find areas of air leakage.
Tom found a very leaky duct system, with disconnected ducts blowing heated air into the crawl space. He recommended fixing the duct system and adding more attic insulation since the home is at an altitude of 7,600 feet heated with propane, a costly fuel. Tom recommended insulating the duct system in the attic and crawl space and ensuring that the fiber glass insulation in the crawl space be flush against the sub floor of the house to increase the insulation value. He recommended general air sealing around doors, windows and cracks since the blower door test showed that all of the cracks in the home added up to 366 square inches of air leakage, which is a lot.
If the Wheelers make the recommended adjustments to their home, they could realize an estimated annual savings of $866 per year, major savings on their propane bill. For more information, or to sign up for an energy audit,
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Call 4CORE at 970-259-1916 if you have any questions or need assistance.
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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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