Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Get Rid of your Excuses: Go Solar

To the Durango Herald Letters Editor
  
We often hear these reasons for not doing something: 

It costs too much, it’s too technical, I’m apprehensive, I’m too busy

We all know these types of statements are only excuses for not doing now what we later wished we had done sooner.

GOING SOLAR is one thing that is easy to put off, for all the reason stated above.  But let’s look at that first excuse, about cost:

If it’s worth doing later, it’s worth more doing now, because:
  1. It will not be cheaper next year. 
  2. The cost for your electricity will continue to go up (see 11/22/13 Durango Herald front page). 
  3. If you have dollars in a low rate savings account, CD, money market fund (think ½% interest!), you can invest those low earning dollars in SOLAR PV for your home and immediately begin earning 6-7%!  Now who wouldn’t to do that right now?

SOLARIZE LA PLATA has taken care of those other excuses also: it’s easy to sign up, we’ve simplified the process, we’ve partnered with 5 local certified solar contractors; and we’re with you all the way from signup through watching your electric meter spin backwards. GOING SOLAR couldn’t be easier or more secure.

But you’re too busy?  Well, your friends and neighbors aren't too busy to recognize and act on a great opportunity. Since Solarize La Plata’s launch on Oct. 22, over 235 home owners have signed up for Solar PV.  

You can too, but only through Jan 31st.  Why wait to do something that makes sense to do now?  GET SOLARIZED today!  Visit www.4core.org , or call Four Corners Office of Resource Efficiency, 970-259-1916.

Robert Lea
Chairman, Solarize La Plata – a citizen’s grass roots campaign for your energy independence

Friday, January 17, 2014

City of Durango Discounts 4CORE Services to Improve Energy Efficiency

4CORE is partnering with the City of Durango on residential and commercial energy efficiency, offering a $100 discount toward 50 4CORE HomeRx energy assessments, and a $200 discount for 25 commercial energy assessments. Additional matching funds of up to $500 will be available for 20 homes and businesses who implement energy efficiency upgrades while the funds last. Additional incentives may also be available through Amerigas, LPEA and Atmos Energy.

“City Council knows that this is the place where energy savings begins,” said Dick White, Mayor of Durango. “With energy prices increasing, return on investment for efficiency improvement grows. These incentives will benefit our residents, our environment, and our local economy.”

4CORE has developed expertise in energy efficiency recommendations for homes and
businesses. The Home Performance Prescription Program (HomeRx) is a streamlined process, which helps homeowners along every step of the way. 4CORE makes homes and buildings efficient, safe, and comfortable, while also helping occupants save money on utility bills. Detailed energy, health, and safety assessments are performed and a consultation is provided, complete with a report and recommendations. 4CORE also offers radon testing and post-upgrade inspections as additional options.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community,” said Gregg Dubit, 4CORE Executive Director. “With these incentives in place and our HomeRx program up and running, we believe 2014 will be ‘the year of energy efficiency.’ We're working to make our region a leader in energy efficiency.

In addition to the discounts being provided by the City of Durango, financing options are available through the First National Bank of Durango to help with energy efficiency improvements.


4CORE trains and works with certified local contractors to assure a high quality work and is focused on supporting local job creation. The organization has coordinated assessment and efficiency improvement services for over 645 homes and businesses. More information can be found on the 4CORE web site at www.fourcore.org, or by calling 970-259-1916.  

Friday, January 10, 2014

Final Shibang: Solarize La Plata Sign up Party

Every year, residents of LaPlata County send millions of dollars out of state to pay for their electricity use.  Meanwhile, massive amounts of solar energy bathing Southwestern Colorado are not being used to create electricity.

Why?  Money, primarily.  In the past, solar PV systems were very expensive, and the cost of coal-powered electricity was cheap.  We now know that there are a lot more expenses with coal-powered electricity than we see on our utility bills, but it has been easy to ignore them because we pay for them in indirect ways.  But, things have changed.  Solar PV panels have come down significantly in price, and La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) has informed us that the cost of our coal-powered electricity will be going up every year for a number of years.

The Four Corners Office for Energy Efficiency (4CORE) facilitated the formation of a volunteer citizens’ group called “Solarize LaPlata” flast summer with the goals of bringing affordable solar PV systems to the people of LaPlata County, creating local jobs, and keeping  money here that would ordinarily leave the area,  Based on a model developed in Portland, OR and endorsed by the Department of Energy, the Solarize LaPlata group has partnered with local solar installers, the City of Durango, First National Bank of Durango, and the 1st Southwest Bank.

If you have ever thought you would like to have solar power or you would like to be more energy-independent, you should check out this program.  And in today’s financial climate, if you have money sitting in the bank earning practically nothing and it’s not part of your emergency fund, you may want to consider going solar as an investment that will average a 7% return.

The Solarize LaPlata committee will be hosting an informational meeting at the Bayfield Library on Saturday, January 11th at 2 p.m.  The program will be explained in detail and there will be time for everyone’s questions.  Those people interested in taking the next step can sign up to have their electrical needs assessed to see what size solar PV system they would need to offset their electricity use and what it would cost.

The Solarize LaPlata a time-limited program.  The citizen volunteers have worked with local installers to bring down the price of a grid-tied solar PV system, which eliminates the need for batteries.  The program offers base systems of three sizes with quality components, warrantied installation and parts, special low cost loans from two local banks, and help in walking people through every step of the decision-making process.  Come to the Library on January 11th and find out how easy going solar can be!

About the Author:

Diane Higgins is a volunteer Steering Committee Member for Solarize La Plata. She recently installed solar on her own home and is hosting a Solarize Open House on Saturday, January 18th from 12 -2 PM at 383 County Road 225.