Thursday, October 31, 2013

Confessions of an Energy Addict

Hello, my name is Gregg Dubit, and I am addicted to energy.

I feel better having said that. I am also the Director of 4CORE, and this is my first ever ‘web log’ or blog.  I am honored and proud that 4CORE is helping to Solarize our community and blogging seems like a great way to tell my thoughts and story on ‘going solar’.

Remember when your mom said, ‘eat your veggies before you have desert’? The same analogy applies to energy use in the home. Insulate, air seal, and maintain or upgrade your appliances first, to have an efficient home. Hire an energy auditor and prepare your nest for the winter. Then for dessert; ‘go solar’.

Our family still eats our veggies: We boosted our attic insulation, we insulated our basement, and we continue to look for ways to make our home more energy efficient. I still have to chase my kids around the house to get them to power down and turn off the lights, ROKU, Wei, computers, TV and the list of high energy consuming plug in devices seem to grow monthly.

I personally thought solar photovoltaics (PV) was not within my financial reach. I thought solar was for wealthy people, and it has been. My wife and I discussed going solar a lot. We were on the fence between our 10-year old daughter (Lydia) needing braces, and the need to upgrade a vehicle, as well as another set of snow tires. There was always something to keep us from investing in solar. I have admired the concept of ‘Going Solar’ but thought I could not afford to put solar on my house.

But I still did not have the cold hard cash to throw down.

Enter Solarize La Plata (SLP), never under estimate what a committed group of volunteers can accomplish. The SLP committee has made ‘going solar’ easy. Solarize La Plata is a grass roots effort to make Solar possible for more people, maybe even you. Competitive local loans, and very competitive pricing on solar installations with professional NABCEP certified, local contractors.

On top of all that, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), is a proven leader among the 44 electric cooperatives under Tri-State for supporting solar on your home with well-organized, professional grid tied interconnect policies (meaning you don’t need to buy $10,000 worth of batteries to go solar), and you will even qualify for a renewable energy credit (thank you LPEA).

What was the tipping point for us on the solar decision? 

Actually there were several tipping points.

After doing the math, subtracting the incentives from the LPEA Renewable Energy Credit, and then subtracting the 30% federal income tax credit available - ‘going solar now’ is possible. My wife Gretchen and I piloted a loan to put PV on our home. Our system went live just a few weeks ago and we are now offsetting our home’s use of electricity. We plan to pay off our loan over the next seven years and we are hedging that utility prices will increase, making our investment even smarter.

Solar power is an opportunity like a back yard garden. We still depend on others for most of our food, but the elk, broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, berries, and lettuce we grow or get locally just taste better and make me feel good. I will still depend on LPEA for electricity, and I greatly appreciated how quickly they performed repairs after the last wet snow storm a few weeks ago. But I'm smiling, having gone solar and knowing I am making electricity while the sun shines.

My Energy Use Confession

I built a ‘hillbilly hot tub’ 10 years ago with a cattle stock tank and an aluminum submersible wood stove. We enjoyed many years of soaking, but splitting an additional chord of wood to heat it was not that relaxing. To upgrade to a modern electric hot tub, or not to upgrade.

Remember when I said I was addicted to energy? Let me tell you, Gretchen and I  really fought over this new appliance. Keeping 300 gallons of water 102 degrees outside is not sustainable. After all, the leader of 4CORE could not be caught relaxing in an electric hot tub, supplied with coal fired power (I imagined that I should be tarred and feathered). Gretchen made the case that this electric hot tub would be an investment in our marriage, soaking under the stars after the kids are in bed – and she was right (again). But compromise often comes with conditions, and my condition for the hot tub was that we invest in solar PV, before I turn 50.

So there you have it. I have come out of the closet – The director of 4CORE is addicted to energy.

What about you? What is your story about energy use?

If you have money, aka cash, solar offers a smart return on investment (ROI) which will outperform most stocks and bonds, and this is represents a local investment, with local contractors. If you don’t have the cash but still want to ‘go solar’ check out the competitive lending options.

If you would like to check out my array, come to the 1st Solarize Open House we are hosting, this Sunday, November 3rd  1:00 to 4:00 pm at our home: 2525 County Road 124, La Plata Canyon, direction signs will be posted – (please leave your dog at home- we have plenty).

Thanks for reading,

Sincerely, Gregg

About the Author

Born and raised in the Washington D.C. area Gregg Dubit has been in Southwest Colorado for over 20 years. Gregg has a Bachelors degree from The University of New Hampshire, Durham in Forest Resource Management, and from Fort Lewis College, Durango in secondary education. Greggs’ previous experience includes Commercial energy auditing, Residential Services Network training and certification, residential general contracting, residential real estate inspection services, high school math and science teacher, former ski patroller, and aged outward bound instructor. In addition, Gregg is an avid dog musher, proud father of Lydia and Hayden, and happily married to Gretchen.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Sunshine to Power More Homes in La Plata County

Solarize La Plata County is offering a limited time opportunity for homeowners in La Plata County to generate their own solar power through a simplified process at a reduced cost. The campaign is launching with an informational event hosted by the Discovery Museum on October 22nd at 5:30 PM, and a chance for interested participants to sign up. Complimentary food and beverages will be served. 
 
Solarize La Plata was initiated by the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) and a group of committed citizens in the spring of this year. Goals include installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on 100 homes in La Plata County with a total of 325 kilowatts (kW) in system capacity. The Solarize model, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the City of Portland, was so successful that the U.S. Dept of Energy (DOE) adopted it and published a Solarize Guidebook for other communities to follow.
 
"This idea started in Portland by a neighborhood group that organized so they could collectively make informed decisions concerning installation of residential PV systems on their homes," said Robert Lea, Solarize La Plata Chairman. "Our changing political climate and the decrease in solar panel pricing is generating excitement about a local campaign, and our dedicated group of volunteers is setting Solarize La Plata in motion."
 
Solarize La Plata is partnering with the City of Durango, local lenders, and La Plata County-based solar contractors to create incentives to make going solar an affordable venture for more residents. As with many other Solarize campaigns around the country, it is expected that Solarize La Plata will result in increased market demand for PV in Southwest Colorado.
 
"Solar power is reliable, maintenance free and can be generated at your home," said Gregg Dubit, 4CORE Executive Director. "Now is a great time for solar. Many people don’t think they can afford solar, but we have lowered the price, motivated local banks to offer competitive loans, and are making it financially feasible for more residents to go solar."
 
The Solarize La Plata group will begin accepting applications on their website after October 22nd.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

The Inside View on Window Coverings

By Sarah Sumner, Interior Designer and owner of Fusion Interiors

I believe it is human nature to love a beautiful view.  I search for them wherever I go: on the top of a mountain, at the top of a sandstone cliff on Cedar Mesa in Utah, or inside a home.  Beautiful views create good feelings. One of my latest projects, providing interior design for a new home in Pagosa, was oriented to magnify the beautiful view of Squaretop Mountain. The owners love this area so much they had June Jurack (a water color painter known in Durango for her whimsical gift cards) paint the view on a label for their home-crafted wine.  

Large windows are often installed that showcase incredible views. However, unless the windows have been well designed with thoughtful planning, those “take your breath away” glories come with a price.  I have worked with numerous homeowners who complain that their lovely and large windows either heat the room up or cool it down too much, or the room occupants are blinded with glare.

There is one window covering family that offers many solutions to the issues posed by excess heat, cold or glare. The Duette Architella honeycomb shades by Hunter Douglas were first invented in Broomfield, Colorado over 30 years ago. From its humble beginnings it has grown to be the number one window covering in climates such as ours. The Duette Architella is energy efficient to the maximum!

Four reasons why Duette Architella shades are so popular :

1. Cold and Hot Climate Benefits; shades reduces cold, exterior air from entering and prevents interior air from escaping; and vice versa for the hot climates.
2. Reduces Energy Consumption; shades are one of only a few that are so insulating they qualify for a Federal Tax Credit. See website for details.
3. Environmentally Sensitive; Some fabrics are GREENGUARD certified. Select fabrics contain sustainable and recycled content.
4. Versatility; They come in hundreds of fabrics and colors, five different head rail systems including a vertical system for sliding glass doors, and various opacity options, from sheer to semi-opaque to blackout.  They are low profile to retain most of the view.

There are numerous other window covering solutions. Most shades are available with hard wired motorization, which include options for home automation and integrated IPAD apps (for the techy person, tons of info can be provided).  Many types of window shadings are on the market today, including the infamous Silhouette shade, and the new Solera Soft Shades by Hunter Douglas.

Sunscreens are popular in offices and restaurants to retain the view yet cut the glare. Some shades look like drapes but roll up in a low profile such as the Vignette and Roller Shade Collections. For the fabric lover, custom draperies also offer high insulation and glare cutting capabilities.

The need for window coverings tend to be similar for most people; heat, cold, glare, privacy, and aesthetics. The best options for meeting those needs are varied and complex. To get the most out of your time and money, consult a professional who can assist you with balancing your needs and your budget. You will be glad you did.

Tell me about your favorite view: email Sarah or call 970-749-0061.


About the Author
Sarah Sumner is the owner of Fusion Interiors and LEED accredited in Interior Design and Construction and has a specialty in green design for interiors. She is located at 700 Main Avenue Suite A in Durango, CO.