tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65057669135760386342012-01-27T15:22:14.606-08:00Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.comBlogger281100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-56404898823512743412012-01-27T15:22:00.000-08:002012-01-27T15:22:14.616-08:00

There is much that we all do, at least in part, to maintain our health.  Eat right, exercise, shop organic, "green" our homes.  However, one of the most important things you can do for your health is little known and seldom discussed.  Radon is the number two cause of lung cancer next to smoking (and the leading cause of lung cancer for non-smokers). However, alarm bells are not going off as they

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-54318455613432232572012-01-19T13:30:00.000-08:002012-01-19T13:30:45.277-08:00

Consider this- companies and agencies that are leaders in sustainability are leading stock performance by an average of 25%. Sustainability boosts brand integrity, reduces risk, and decreases costs. DuPont and NASCAR are examples of successful sustainability efforts, and here is why: By using sustainable practices, these companies have a competitive advantage through brand enhancement and

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-81256925560388050762012-01-10T12:00:00.000-08:002012-01-10T12:14:28.171-08:00

The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency 4CORE) is teaming up with Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC), AmeriCorps, and Empire Electric Association to enhance energy efficiency at the Por Dia Daycare facility in Cortez on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at 2 PM. The organizations will provide free weatherization services to increase safety and comfort for school children, while decreasing

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-72316089486617205282011-12-30T13:14:00.000-08:002011-12-30T13:14:49.323-08:00

4CORE wishes you and yours a happy and prosperous 2012! Compare incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights Thick walls and south facing windows make this home easy to heat in the winter and cool in the summer LED track lighting- efficient and beautiful! A programmable thermostat set at a reasonable temperature Intern Anne Pesata educates booth visitors at the Pagosa Home and

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com1Southwest Colorado37.50972603877014 -108.2812503750000111.270314038770138 -168.58120437500003 63.74913803877014 -47.981296375000014tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-36627500687432429062011-12-07T09:07:00.000-08:002011-12-07T09:07:32.169-08:00

4CORE has permanently hired Kirk Coppinger as Weatherization Program Manager, starting December 5th. Coppinger is replacing Gregg Dubit, who was recently hired as 4CORE’s Executive Director. Coppinger was appointed Interim Program Manager on July 1st of this year, and prior to that was one of 4CORE’s Weatherization Inspectors. “Kirk has eleven years of experience in managing large-scale

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-7222148685719263462011-11-16T19:58:00.000-08:002011-11-16T19:58:55.052-08:00

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? 4CORE’s mission is to advance resource

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-39897516768624050832011-10-24T13:24:00.000-07:002011-10-24T13:47:50.157-07:00

Two years ago, a group of my friends and I were told to sit down, blueprint, imagine, and present a program “to spur sustainable economic development” that was transparent, credible, consistent, valuable, holistic, locally defined, and unique.  Our feelings were somewhere between absolutely overwhelmed and excited to show off how competent we were. We then realized we were contained only by the

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-34761203836954881922011-07-15T15:59:00.000-07:002011-08-01T15:55:51.201-07:00

What does 5 acres of land, 8 mouths to feed, and a dedication to conscious living sound like to you? Potential. Heather Wyatt and her 7 housemates are bringing living things together to work and live at their highest potential while benefiting from their interaction. It all started with the desire to eat local, organic food. You can get a lot of local, organic food, but not everything, all the

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-18238271432786574032011-06-06T15:05:00.000-07:002011-06-06T15:05:59.485-07:00

Tavia Widder, age 68, lives in Durango, Colorado. She only source of income is her Social Security payment of $1,000 per month. Up until May 2011, her main source of heat was an extremely dangerous old pellet stove that once burned out of control and had to be extinguished by the local fire department. After the incident, Ms. Widder spent $1,000 of her own limited income trying to have the

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-89134116069895363422011-05-27T11:47:00.000-07:002011-05-27T11:47:20.111-07:00

By Anne Pesata I grew up in Dulce, New Mexico, the sole municipality within the boundaries of the Jicarilla Apache reservation. That experience offered me a rich cultural background and a strong sense of place and family. There are a multitude of issues that plague the community on the reservation that need to be recognized. One such issue is that of housing, specifically the areas of housing

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-84032388988682355552011-04-14T09:57:00.001-07:002011-04-14T14:08:12.364-07:00

If you have central air conditioning or a window air conditioning unit, you can save money on your electric bill by following these energy-saving tips this summer: Replace the filter monthly during the cooling season and have a professional service your system at the beginning of each cooling season. Keeping your filters clean can cut energy consumption 5 to 15%. An annual pre-season check-up by

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-14546574745884385722011-02-25T12:42:00.000-08:002011-02-25T12:42:52.537-08:00

4CORE Now in Cortez March 22nd, 4 - 5 pm 4CORE is excited to announce the grand opening of their Cortez office this month. Come participate in the ribbon cutting, celebrate with free food and 4CORE give-aways, and learn more about the work 4CORE is doing in the Montelores Area.

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-22388745642127677542011-02-04T12:49:00.000-08:002011-02-04T12:49:11.198-08:00

We all know that we are in a time of economic strife- nationally and locally. A lot of us are wondering, "How can we turn this around and how can I earn a living?" and moreover, "How can I earn a living while also doing something I am passionate about in my community?" How do communities encourage economic recovery that encompasses community and environment, and strives to encourage and utilize

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-81145088699565659412010-12-20T09:28:00.000-08:002010-12-20T09:28:55.183-08:00

Gregg Dubit, Program Manager of 4CORE's Weatherization Assistance Program, recently presented at the Green Business Roundtable on December 8th, where he educated well over 50 local community members and business owners on "The Art of Weatherization," an informative and very entertaining presentation. Here are just a few of helpful tips and energy efficiency measures from Gregg's presentation:

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-43259883049131854992010-11-29T14:28:00.000-08:002010-11-29T14:28:52.653-08:00

We can all agree that communities are greatly diverse in values and it is often a difficult task to to find collective agreements among such diversity. However, if we all try to focus on what we all do have in common and share- our universal “human needs,” the potential for finding a middle-ground, making decisions and implementing actions can become easier found. adapted from The Natural Step

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-3600854269077091522010-10-14T08:17:00.000-07:002010-10-14T08:17:33.023-07:00

The leaves are changing color and cooler weather is upon us here in La Plata County.  We all are beginning to cut and stack firewood, top off the propane tank, check our furnaces, fireplaces and equip our homes with the needed measures to ensure the optimal deliverance of warmth in the months to come. As we prep our homes for the coming of colder weather, there are some helpful practices for

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-83300013710224426592010-10-04T07:55:00.000-07:002010-10-04T07:55:30.602-07:00

Sherry Cuthbertson is a recent weatherization client in La Plata County. She is a single woman who has health issues that prevent her from being employed. She read in the local paper and was also told by her social worker about the Weatherization Assistance Program. She made a call to 4CORE and was approved to have her home weatherized. It took about one month from her initial contact (she was

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-26559695180971316302010-09-01T06:50:00.000-07:002010-09-30T13:29:33.513-07:00

“Sustainable development is a dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential, and to improve their quality of life, in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth's life support systems.” (Forum for the Future Annual Report 2000). I really like the quote above. It expresses, in one sentence, what my philosophy is all about: Sustainable living can improve your

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-14998046187324333602010-08-03T14:17:00.000-07:002010-08-03T14:19:47.626-07:00

I moved to Durango, CO from Chapel Hill, NC two months ago to work as an intern at 4CORE, and to aid 4CORE in completing the Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) for La Plata County.  I graduated in May from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill with a degree in Environmental Studies, and a concentration in Environmental Policy.  After an epic solo cross-country road trip, I

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-14215373946113761552010-06-24T14:57:00.000-07:002010-06-24T15:07:03.103-07:00

By Beverly McAllister Living green is an omnipresent theme here in Southwest Colorado. Since beginning my Internship at 4CORE, I have discovered that although there are many ways my lifestyle supports a conscious approach to zero waste living, there are always new ideas to employ toward this goal. The summer season offers a variety of opportunities to improve our efficient use of resources. One

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-29324614451395316492010-06-02T13:54:00.000-07:002010-06-02T13:58:19.994-07:00

[To the left is a picture of FLC students with an IR camera, which are used in the Weatherization Assistance Program] As a new intern for 4CORE I became very attracted to the Weatherization Assistance Program. It is a great way to strengthen the community because it increases the quality of housing stock, creates work for local contractors, decreases our dependence on foreign oil, and lowers our

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-40274907047688164392010-04-30T13:47:00.000-07:002010-04-30T13:47:12.510-07:00

Southwest Colorado plays an important role in the burgeoning New Energy Economy in our state. Much of our landscape receives 7 kilowatt hours of sunlight per square meter per day, there is enough of a breeze in many places to make wind power possible, and the feasibility of at least a few win-win off-channel hydro power projects is currently being studied.  Combined with traditional sources of

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-35811398922739664632010-03-30T09:40:00.000-07:002010-03-30T09:40:46.650-07:00

Governor Ritter recently announced Colorado’s new Community Energy Coordinators (CEC), naming the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) as the CEC for La Plata, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma and Archuleta counties. “We’re excited to see champions for the New Energy Economy on the ground in these local communities, working closely with citizens, businesses and governments to help them

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-62128650748512203632010-02-26T08:36:00.000-08:002010-02-26T09:44:34.056-08:00

Since starting as an intern at 4CORE on January 4th I have been on a steep learning curve in the weatherization program. I have been exposed to a wide variety of tasks and gaining on the job training in a number of different aspects of the program. I am gradually finding my niche, and feeling like a member of the 4CORE team with something to contribute.The part of the weatherization

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-43188378384008175182010-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:002010-02-02T08:22:08.213-08:00

In November of 2007 Governor Bill Ritter announced Colorado’s first Climate Action Plan with the goal of establishing “clear strategies to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” for the purpose of ensuring Colorado's "energy, economic and environmental future," according to a Governors Energy Office GEO press release.Following the Governor's action plan there have been significant advances

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-40365144932199613462010-01-01T00:26:00.000-08:002010-01-04T08:04:28.806-08:00

Its traditional to start the new year off on a diet, right? You've been consuming lots of carbon with all those holiday lights, travel, and excessive amounts of wrapping paper. Why not start 2010 off right by pledging to lose some weight?You could lose 5000 pounds in 30 days! All you need to do is join the Low Carbon Diet Club. Here is how it works:Step 1: Weigh-In Figure

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-86760120655971558772009-12-01T06:50:00.000-08:002009-12-01T06:50:00.243-08:00

As the frenzied holiday season approaches, 4CORE offers this advice to reduce your impact on our environment (and your pocketbook):LED Holiday LightsYou can get a rebate from LPEA when you purchase LED lights. Rebates include $2 for a 49-bulb string or less and $4 for a 50-bulb string or more.These lights use 90% less energy than regular lights. These lights last longer and burn cooler than

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505766913576038634.post-30696623321230868762009-11-19T11:59:00.000-08:002009-11-19T13:28:48.526-08:00

In an effort to present organized information to clients, we've revamped the website!Easy navigation on the left will help you quickly find information. Also, the site is now searchable, at the bottom of the navigation bar at left.Follow us on social and professional network links, also located on the navigation bar at left.Finally, there are plans to integrate archives from the Energy to Evolve

4COREhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05607069860751595374noreply@blogger.com0