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4CORE & Partner Events
Hazardous Waste Disposal Day
October 6, 8 AM-1 PM
La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Avenue, Durango
$20 per vehicle suggested donation.
For more information please visit the City of Durango's website or contact the City's Sustainability Office at 375-4830.
Homebuyers Class
Regional Housing Alliance (RHA)
October 16, 5:30-8:30 PM
October 20, 8:30 AM -1:30 PM
4CORE will present info on how to make improvements and save money on bills.
Call for location and to sign up: 970-259-1418
Green Business Roundtable
Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money, Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered
Presenter: Woody Tasch October 10, 12:00-1:00 PM Strater Hotel Pullman Room 699 Main Ave, Durango Home Spotlight Event 602 Powder Horn Trail November 3, 4 - 7 PM Tour this Net Zero home and speak with the businesses that supplied the sustainable building materials.
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| Nominate the Green Business of the Year
The Green Business Roundtable is soliciting nominations for its 2012 Green Business Leadership Award.
Nomination Criteria:
A for-profit business that demonstrates leadership, risk, & innovation in utilizing environmentally responsible, healthy & profitable business practices in the areas of:
- Energy & water
- Transportation
- Pollution & waste
- Manufacturing & purchasing
- Other contributions to the community
Link to nomination form
Deadline is November 16th
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Volunteer for Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event
The City of Durango and La Plata County are looking for volunteers to assist with diverting tons of hazardous material from the landfill. So far, this includes 15,400 pounds of oil-based paint, 13,500 pounds of latex paint, 3,100 pounds of pesticides, 250 pounds of batteries, 40 pounds of compact fluorescent light bulbs and five pounds of elemental mercury.
The event takes place
Saturday, October 6th
La Plata County Fairgrounds
Breakfast & lunch are provided!
Contact Mary Beth Miles in the City's Sustainability Office at
970-375-4830 or
milesmb@ci.durango.co.us
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Sponsor Opportunities
Sponsorship provides a direct channel of communication for you to connect with the community. Your support creates heightened awareness of energy efficiency in our community.
Newsletter Sponsorship
4CORE's newsletter reaches 2,000 subscribers who could be looking at your logo. Our open and click-thru rates are great, with 18% of email viewers clicking on links that could be taking them to YOUR website. Monthly- Your logo and link to your web site are in the 4CORE newsletter for one issue. 6 Months- Your logo, link to your web site, and company description are in the 4CORE newsletter for 6 months. Bonus listing on fourcore.org. Yearly Sponsorship-Your logo, link to your web site, and company description are in the 4CORE newsletter for 12 months. Bonus listing on fourcore.org.
Email for more information.
Brown Bag Lunch- Session Sponsor
Includes your logo in all promotional materials leading up to the event (enewsletter, flyers) and on display before the session.
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 Energy to Evolve
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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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You've probably turned on the heater by now, or at least dug out a sweater on one of the last few chilly mornings. That means it is time to have the talk- about safe and efficient heating.
Easy Tip #1: If you have a forced air heater, when was the last time you looked at the filter? Changing that dusty thing helps improve the efficiency of your furnace ($avings for you!) and improves air quality.
The average home leaks 25-40% of heating energy through leaky duct work- easy to fix! Check out this video.
If you want to be warm and cozy this winter, then this issue is for you!
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5 Ways to Warmth
Healthy, Safe Heating
- Turn off the electricity or gas to the furnace and replace the filter. If you haven't regularly cleaned or replaced the filter, do it now and check it throughout the heating season. A clean filter will operate more efficiently. If you have a central air conditioning system that operates with the furnace blower, count on replacing the filter more often. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Remove dust from the furnace. Get all the crevices cleaned of dust. Vacuum the base and grills. And be sure to clear obstacles to the vents so air can freely flow.
- Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat is ideal for people who are away from home at set times throughout the week. A properly programmed thermostat can save you $180 every year in energy costs, according to ENERGY STAR.
- Check for carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide can be detected with an inexpensive test badge or battery operated alarm.
- Call the professionals. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends scheduling a professional inspection each year for your furnace and all fuel-burning home heating systems, including boilers, fireplaces, wood stoves, water heaters, chimneys, flues and vents.
Checking out this video about HVAC filter maintenance:
 | | HVAC Maintenance & Air Filter Tips |
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Twenty Questions 
To Keep you thinking about
Winter Warmth!
Ten questions for furnace owners:
- When did you last change your furnace filter?
- When did you last have your furnace fan/blower cleaned, or your furnace serviced?
- Are your ducts dirty? Does something smell funny when your furnace kicks on?
- Are your ducts leaking expensive heated air into your attic or crawl, are they sealed, insulated?
- What efficiency level is your furnace rated at?
- How blue are your furnace burner flames?
- Do you save energy with programmable thermostats?
- Does your vent stack actually draft exhaust gases, such as carbon monoxide our of your home?
- Does you furnace have a pilot light, or is it a modern appliance with electronic ignition and/or sealed combustion?
- If servicing or upgrading your furnace actually saved you $$$, would you invest?
Ten questions for boiler owners:
- Are your boiler lines insulated?
- Have you had your boiler serviced this year, or in the last five years?
- Do you know what temperature water your boiler should be putting out?
- Is your boiler a modern combustion appliance with sealed combustion and/or electronic ignition?
- How many zones do you have?
- Do you save money by using programmable thermostats?
- How blue are your boiler burner flames?
- Is your boiler operating at peak efficiency? What efficiency level is that?
- Do you agree that pilot lights are sooo YESTERDAY, or yesteryear?
- If servicing or upgrading your boiler actually saved you $$$, would you invest?
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 Net-Zero Home Tour
Coming November 3rd
Speaking of heating, Richard and Jill Hoehlein are opening their home to YOU in November to spread the word about how they are safely (and efficiently!) heating their home.
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Some highlights include:
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- Solar Photovoltaic
- Solar Hot Water
- Geoexchange Ground Source Heating & Cooling
- Heat Recovery Ventilation
- Passive Solar Design
- Rainwater collection
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- Growing Spaces Growing DomeŽ
- Xeriscape
- Natural Daylighting techniques
- Super tight and insulated
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Thanks to all our sponsors who are making this event happen!
  
 
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True Story: Healthy Rental Home
Landlady Pays for Duct System and Radon Fix
By Teresa Shishim, 4CORE Program Manager
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Before & After Duct Cleaning
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My landlady is a saint. Or at least, she has me convinced she is.
As an employee of 4CORE I know the dangers of radon and dirty furnace ducts, and as the mother of a one-year-old, I want to minimize the risks of poor indoor air quality to my family.
So when I brought the scary results of two radon tests (one done in February, one in May) to my landlady and asked her what could be done, she didn't bat an eye. She called up a radon mitigation company and ordered the work on our basement to take place within a month.
A few months later, my husband noticed a nasty black residue inside our ducts and told our landlady. She ordered work from a company that specializes in duct cleaning, and had her home serviced, as well. Now both furnaces are working more quietly, efficiently, and there is no burnt smell from dust settling in the system over the summer.
Saint or Savvy?
Is our landlady really a saint, or is she savvy by maintaining the value of her rental investment?
Read the rest of this blog on Energy to Evolve
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Grand Prize Winner Announced:
Emily Lloyd of Durango will receive a comprehensive audit, consulting session, and insulation installation from WeatherCo, with insulation provided from ProBuild!
Winners were selected based on the home's potential energy savings. Applications were screened by a panel of judges.
Thanks to all who entered and participated in the contest!
HomeRx Home Makeover Contest Sponsored by:
 
  Annadel Building
Solutions LLC
 
For more information, contact 4CORE.
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Easy Way to Donate to 4CORE
Use your Alpine Bank Card!
4CORE is pleased to announce that we are now a beneficiary of proceeds from Durango's Alpine Bank Loyalty Check Card for the Environment.
Each time you use your card, Alpine Bank donates 10 cents per transaction to organizations (like 4CORE!!). These special cards are available with no annual fee to individuals with an Alpine Bank checking account.
4CORE is thrilled to have such a committed partner! Please head down to the bank today to open an account, (if you haven't already) and sign on to the Environment Loyalty Check Card. This will enable 4CORE to serve more local residents with energy saving information, weatherization services and resource conservation ideas to help individuals, families and businesses thrive.
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 Is Your Business "Smart"?
Resource Smart Business Program
is Recruiting!
The RSBP is a free, voluntary certification program that helps local businesses operate more efficiently. Businesses who participate will learn how to assess their energy consumption, worksite wellness and overall sustainability. Businesses that make positive changes will then become "Resource Smart Certified" and receive recognition and promotion for their efforts.
The RSBP is a collaboration between Fort Lewis College Environmental Center, Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE), Healthy Lifestyle La Plata, Local First, La Plata Electric Association, Bright Green and SWConnect and is funded through a grant from the EPA that was awarded to La Plata County.
Apply online or learn more about the RSBP. |
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Step Into Our Board Room
4CORE Looking for a Few Good Board Members
4CORE is recruiting board members for our next term. If you or someone you know is interested in contributing time and expertise to our cutting-edge organization, please download and fill out the 4CORE Board Candidate Nomination Form.
Board Criteria:
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to the goals of 4CORE's mission - "To Advance Resource Efficiency"
- Balance/temper personal and professional goals with those of 4CORE
- Ability to influence or mobilize resources to meet the mission
- Four to eight hours per month commitment to help make our community a leader in resource efficiency
For more information on this process, contact 4CORE.
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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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