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 22^nd 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.

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.

Four More Businesses are Now Resource Smart Certified

The Resource Smart Business Program (RSBP) recently certified Maria’s Bookshop, Housing Solutions for the Southwest, Pet Haus and San Juan Basin Health Department as ‘Ramping Up’. The RSBP process is helping them to make positive changes in their business and our community by reducing energy consumption, increasing worksite wellness and promoting sustainable business practices in the workplace. These businesses have made upgrades that will ultimately increase their profits by saving money on their bottom line.

“This program is guiding us on a path to deeper efficiency for our business,” said Peter Schertz, owner of Maria’s Bookshop. “Our staff is excited about the benefits and ideas the RSBP has introduced.  The culture of our work place as well as that of employee’s homes has shifted.”

Maria’s changed their lighting system by replacing 116 CFL light bulbs with LEDs, resulting in annual savings of $1,748, an investment with a return on investment of less than one year. They have also previously installed a bike rack for customers in the parking space outside the store, provide incentives to employees that choose not to drive, purchase 100% green power, built a shed to store reusable cardboard boxes for the community, and much more.

Pet Haus installed a thermal entrance door to minimize air infiltration and heat loss, and upgraded lighting to LEDs. Their estimated annual savings of $415 is expected to pay for itself in less than 6 months. Other Resource Smart actions previously taken by Pet Haus include sourcing local and made in Colorado pet products, offering whole, raw, organic and non-GMO pet food options, using green cleaning products, offering biodegradable plastic bags for products, accepting drop-off plastic bags for re-use, using slow-drip irrigators and xeriscape landscaping, and installing low-flow toilets and sink aerators, among other activities.

Housing Solutions for the Southwest installed programmable thermostats for swamp coolers, insulated and air sealed their warehouse garage door, replaced their bathroom exhaust fan for better ventilation, and signed up for single-stream recycling. Their estimated annual savings is $97 and 2,362 kWh.

San Juan Basin Health Department signed up for single-stream recycling and is working on building upgrades. Other Resource Smart Actions previously taken by San Juan Basin Health Department include ordering post-consumer recycled paper products, setting printers to print double-sided automatically, and sending out an educational wellness newsletter to staff, among other activities.

Maria’s Bookstore is located at 960 Main Avenue in Durango or at www.mariasbookshop.com. Pet Haus is located at 1444 Main in Durango or at www.pethaus.net. Housing Solutions for the Southwest is located in Bodo at 295 Girard St. in Durango or at swhousingsolutions.com. San Juan Basin Health is located at 281 Sawyer Dr. in Durango or at sjbhd.org. Stop by their businesses to support Resource Smart Certified businesses.

For more information or to apply for RSBP certification, please visit the website or contact Amanda Saunders with 4CORE at (970) 259-1916.

4CORE brings Healthy Homes Grant to La Plata County

4CORE is launching the Healthy Homes Project to increase community awareness of public health issues related to residential indoor air pollution. The goal is to share low- or no-cost methods for reducing indoor air pollution health risks for vulnerable populations, including low income families, children and the elderly.

4CORE received an Environmental Justice Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to fund this effort in La Plata County. Throughout the next year the project will conduct 18 presentations across the county to provide information on topics such as asthma, radon, carbon monoxide poisoning, second-hand smoke and Sick Home Syndrome.

“The EPA says we spend an average of 80-90% of our time indoors and this air can be two- to five-times more polluted than air outdoors,” states Gregg Dubit, Executive Director of 4CORE. “We are excited to be able to provide this information to our region’s low-income populations, especially children and elderly people who are particularly at risk.”

A long-term goal of the project is to improve the health of program participants through improved indoor air quality in their homes as a result of information gained from presentations. Participants will receive free radon test kits, carbon monoxide alarms and information on low- or no-cost methods for the reduction of home-based health hazards.

Key partners in the project include: San Juan Basin Health Department, Housing Solutions for the Southwest and the Regional Housing Alliance. Interested community organizations, low-income housing developments and health providers are encouraged to contact 4CORE at 970-259-1916 to schedule a presentation.  For more information, visit www.fourcore.org.

La Plata County Organizations Celebrate Local Sustainability Efforts

On Sept. 7, 2013, local businesses and area organizations will share their sustainability efforts with the community at the Sustainability Showcase Celebration. The event will feature food, drinks and music, and a ‘Passport’ that participants get stamped at educational stations and turn in to receive a prize.

In July of 2011, La Plata County received a Climate Showcase Community grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by optimizing business efficiency, educating youth, increasing the production and consumption of local food, and promoting ridership on local transit.

The Resource Smart Business Program is a certification program that helps businesses operate more efficiently by decreasing their energy consumption, increasing worksite wellness, and promoting sustainable business practices. Program partners include the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE), Bright Green, Fort Lewis College Environmental Center, Healthy Lifestyle La Plata, La Plata Electric Association, Local First, and SWConnect.

The Durango Discovery Museum has been working to engage youth with innovative technology by creating a living laboratory that demonstrates the value and science of renewable energy and energy efficient building practices. Healthy Community Food Systems works with producers, processors, marketers, and consumers to make our local food system healthy, economically viable, and good for the land. Southern Ute Community Action Programs reduces commuter vehicle miles traveled by increasing ridership on Road Runner Transit. These groups will showcase their resource efficient programs and activities by educating and entertaining the community on September 7th from noon to 2 p.m., outside on the Durango Discovery Museum Plaza.

"The Climate Showcase Community program is an incredible opportunity to bring together a diverse array of community organizations to collaborate on innovative sustainability programs," says Amanda Saunders, 4CORE Program Coordinator. "We are excited to share what we have been working on for the past two years and how it benefits our community."

10 Things to Ask before Signing a Rental Lease

Ready to move in? Before you sign, take care of your health and your pocket book by asking these questions:

1. If you are paying utilities, what is the estimated cost of utilities each month? How about in winter when heating costs are higher? Often times, you can call the utility to find out these costs if the landlord doesn't know. 
2. Who arranges for and pays for maintenance and repairs? If it is the landlord, how long does the repair process usually take? 
3. What are policies on visitors, pets, and subletting?
4. Has the landlord ever done a radon test, and if so, what were the results? If any results came back 4 picocuries per liter of air (pCi/L) or greater, a retest and mitigation should have been done. If it wasn't done, occupants are at risk for increased chances of lung cancer. 
5. How long ago was the furnace, gas stove, or other combustion appliance tested for gas leaks? 80% of homes weatherized by 4CORE had health and safety issues, usually related to gas stoves, furnaces, water heaters, or other appliances.
6. How old are the appliances and are any of them ENERGY STAR rated? 
7. Is there any mold or asbestos in the home? If so, indoor air quality could be poor and you might not want to move in until these are removed. In addition, make sure that you know about the presence of any lead paint and that work on the home has followed  lead-safe practices.
8. How well are the windows and doors air sealed? This might be something you look for when you go to view the house. If there are obvious gaps, ask them to be repaired before you sign. 
9. Are there any reasons the land lord or property manager would break the lease before it is expired? 
10. Have previous tenants experienced any respiratory-related health problems that you are aware of? 

Other things to consider: 

• Get rental insurance for your belongings- a land lord's insurance will not cover you- just the property. 
• If children or elderly people are going to be living with you, they are at a higher risk for indoor air quality issues. Make sure radon and appliance testing are addressed before signing.

4CORE Launches Home Performance Prescription Program (HomeRx)

4CORE is pleased to announce an innovative program now available for Southwest Colorado homeowners. The Home Performance Prescription (HomeRx) program lowers utility bills by identifying primary areas for home energy improvement, prescribing upgrades, linking area residents with incentives, financing, and contractors, and providing inspections for quality assurance

Building on the success of 4CORE’s HomeRx Program pilot, this initiative is for homeowners who are interested in improving home comfort and making smart investments in proven energy efficiency upgrades. HomeRx offers financing options and local contractors to create a package that pays for itself in a short amount of time. The homes in the HomeRx pilot are saving an average of $481 annually in utility bills, in addition to improving health, safety, comfort, and quality of life for families. 

"Many area residents are paying too much to heat their homes, and a surprisingly high number of homes have serious health and safety problems," said Gregg Dubit, Executive Director for 4CORE.  "We are excited to help area homeowners of all income levels get on the path to higher performing, more comfortable homes. This is an area that 4CORE has solid expertise in, having assisted over 630 homeowners already." 


4CORE will be using the latest diagnostics available from the Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score to evaluate homes. This system scores homes and compares them to national averages. In addition to energy improvements such as air sealing and insulation, HomeRx addresses the health and safety of combustion appliances for gas leaks, performance, and general indoor air quality. Radon testing is also available. 

4CORE’s HomeRx Program links homeowners with financing options, including loans through local lending institutions, rebates, and other incentives. First National Bank of Durango is providing HomeRx-specific loans for homeowners. 

"We are excited to be offering this loan program as part of 4CORE’s HomeRx Program," noted Steve Emrich (NMLS ID # 787887), Vice President of First National Bank of Durango, equal housing lender, member FDIC. "We anticipate this program becoming more popular as homeowners come to understand the value of long-term energy savings."  

In addition to assisting individual residents, the HomeRx Program will benefit Southwest Colorado’s economy by boosting job creation through referrals to local contractors, and saving energy dollars that would otherwise go to providers outside of our region. 

Tom Zajicek, nationally certified building science expert, is coordinating HomeRx and is now taking reservations for home assessments. For additional information or to sign up, please email Tom at 4CORE or call (970) 259-1916 ext. 113.