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.

Keep Breathing: New Paint, New Carpet and Your Family

Recently, my family had the opportunity to move into a new rental and choose the paint and carpet that would be installed. I was concerned that moving in the middle of the winter would not allow us to open doors and windows to vent the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other fumes that "off-gas" once paint, flooring and carpeting have been installed.

My family isn't particularly sensitive, but we do have a two year-old daughter who is developing her brain, muscle, and body at an alarming rate, and I don't want her breathing in chemicals. I voiced these concerns to my landlady Rosalie and asked her if I could pick no-VOC paints and seal any flooring she installs with AFM Safecoat sealers. She happily obliged and here is why:

High Quality and Equal CostI did a bit of cost comparison of paints found that zero VOC Mythic Paint sold at Handcrafted House was very similar in price to regular paint. Mythic paint is a non-toxic paint that provides the durability you expect from a premium paint without the off-gassing and cancer-causing toxins that emit years after drying. And you can breath easy knowing that Mythic has a very large selection of colors choices , with excellent coverage and smooth application.

Painters need to breath Too
The painter Rosalie hired to paint has been in the business for many years. In fact, he retired and is only doing jobs that allow him to use non-toxic paint. He was happy with the coverage of the Mythic Pro, using only one coat on most surfaces. 

Rosalie was still living in the house at the time it was painted, and she voiced how pleased she was with the fumes that she avoided breathing using these paints too.

Flooring It
I was concerned about the carpeting outgassing carcinogens as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, xylene and styrene during the winter months when we are inside most. Sheryl at Handcrafted House pointed me in the direction of a product I didn't even know existed: Carpet Seal. It is designed to prevent the outgassing of harmful chemicals used in carpet backing. Carpet Seal is odor-free and effectively blocks outgassing for up to five cleanings or one year.

Creating a beautiful home for you and your family is an exciting process, but it isn't just about the looks. Don't forget to care for your health as you choose your finishes. Call Sheryl at Handcrafted House at  970.247.4046  to learn more!

Good Health to you and your family in 2014 and beyond!

About the Author

Teresa Shishim is Program Manager at 4CORE. She  is a Colorado native who is dedicated to improving where we live through collaboration. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science at Western Washington University and has significant experience managing and coordinating projects and programs, including marketing campaigns, volunteer programs, and events. She gained this experience through a variety of positions, including serving as the Director of a non-profit river restoration group and as Marketing Manager for a start-up software company.

The Pathway to Energy Independence

by Reji

Letter to the Durango Herald Editor

Dear Editor:

There is a pathway to energy independence in our region, and there is no better time than now to put one foot in front of the other to get there. The more of us that start walking that path, the more money stays in our back pockets and in our local economy. With the rising cost of electricity, alternative ways to power our homes and businesses are looking more appealing. The US Army is well on its way to energy independence, with the Army Strategy for the Environment: Sustain the Mission – Secure the Future (www.sustainability.army.mil). Our neighbors at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs produces as much energy as they use, and reuse or recycle 100% of their waste and water.

The first step along this path energy efficiency.  “First Reduce Your Use, and then Produce” Making sure that your home or business is air sealed is the first and usually least expensive way to decrease energy waste. Efficient bulbs and ENERGY Star appliances are a great way to reduce electricity demand, as well.

Once a home or building is efficient, the next step is renewables. More than 290 days of FREE sunshine brightens our county each year. Solar makes sense (and cents) in our sunny location, and allows us the freedom to produce energy on our very rooftops, of all places. With so much power just over our heads, it’s not as hard as you might think to reach up and grab it.

I’m excited about the opportunity that Solarize La Plata is creating for many here. The payback period for solar has changed from twenty years to just seven years with the offered base price systems. Financing options are available.

Let us follow the example that our nation’s army is setting and strive for energy independence. I encourage all readers who are ready to take electricity production into their own hands to visit fourcore.org or call 970-259-1916 to get your name on the list by January 31^st, when the sign up period ends.

Sincerely,

Teresa Shishim
A.K.A. Little Miss Sunshine

CEAP on Keepin' On

For one year, I dedicated myself to facilitating the development of the La Plata Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP), in collaboration with a wide range of community volunteers (volunteers who had already been hard at work for a year-and-a-half before I came into the picture!). As a group, we put an incredible amount of time, energy and soul into the creation of the CEAP. Working with that group of dedicated volunteers was a pretty incredible experience. I was so inspired by their passion, knowledge and drive to create a plan that they hoped would help shape a stronger future for the local community they loved.

The vision for the CEAP was to impact personal, organizational, and governmental policies, practices, and behaviors in a meaningful, measurable, and cost-effective way to minimize or neutralize local greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt successfully to climate change. The City of Durango and La Plata County recognized that climate change is not just a global problem, but something that is already having impacts here in our local community (projected impacts described below):

The community volunteers engaged to create the CEAP came up with the following emission reduction targets and strategies (and 42 recommended actions within the six strategies below).

The CEAP was officially submitted to elected officials in June of 2011. The City of Durango passed a resolution on August 2nd, 2011 that the plan is finalized and accepted by the City of Durango for timely consideration of its recommendations. However, the county chose to not pass a resolution regarding any sort of planned action. Since the CEAP was submitted, neither government entity has begun implementing recommended actions under the umbrella of the CEAP. Thousands of volunteer hours went into the creation of the CEAP, a plan that we were all incredibly proud of, a plan that we thought could really benefit our local community.

To realize that this amazing piece of work was just going to sit on a shelf was a pretty demoralizing experience. But just because the CEAP was never officially adopted and purposefully implemented, it doesn't mean that action hasn't been occurring in our community that supports its goals. The City of Durango has done a lot to promote resource conservation within their operations, increase multi-modal transportation through many different projects, and has switched to single-stream recycling. La Plata County has also taken action to be more resource efficient through partnering with the City on recycling events and greening their own operations. LPEA, as well, has contributed to the cause through its Green Power Program, its highly successful commercial lighting program, as well as the recently developed Community Solar Garden policy. 

Here at 4CORE we have also been hard at work, weatherizing 628 low-income homes, conducting energy audits on and assisting with upgrades for 30 businesses, launching a Solarize campaign to increase installations of rooftop solar, coaching fleets on alternative fuel options, and conducting resource efficiency education presentations and training. Even though our local governments haven’t directly encouraged or supported implementation of the CEAP, our community has continued to work on a variety of grassroots activities that work to achieve the CEAP goals.

Two years later we are faced with a different political climate than we were when the CEAP was submitted. New local leadership is placing more of a priority on sustainability initiatives. Durango Mayor Dick White (a former member of the CEAP Steering Committee) made the following comment:

“I very much want to see these initiatives advance during my term as Mayor . . .  I think that the easiest way forward would be to update the [emissions] inventory, even as the City (and, I hope, the County) begin to consider what CEAP actions make sense for near-term consideration.”

According to Gwen Lachelt, La Plata County Commissioner,

"Several county residents [have] request[ed] that La Plata County take up the CEAP again. The La Plata County Commissioners will be meeting before the end of the year to discuss priorities for 2014 and the CEAP will be on my list as it was during my campaign . . . If the CEAP is a priority to county residents I would urge folks to send letters to the three La Plata County Commissioners . . . [Additionally], the EPA has been planning to lower the federal ozone standard and if that were to happen tomorrow, La Plata County would be in non-attainment due to the high ozone concentrations that currently exist. I believe it is critical that we work cooperatively with the oil and gas and coal industry as well as the local governments in the region to address this issue in order to protect public health, the environment and our economy." 

As a community, we've had some setbacks in the sustainability department, but also a lot of positive developments. And with strong local leadership in support of taking action to address climate change, I think we have a bright future on the horizon. I’m excited to be a part of this community and to help see these actions unfold!

About the Author Amanda Saunders is Program Coordinator at 4CORE. She was born in Florida and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in Chapel Hill, Amanda worked with the town to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory for their Climate Action Plan. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys climbing, hiking, skiing, traveling, reading, and soccer. Amanda manages the Resource Smart Business Program.

Radon Education Grant Received

La Plata County Extension and 4CORE are teaming up to raise radon awareness. EPA has approved grant request for Radon Education in Southwest Colorado through Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. CSU Extension will provide workshops beginning in December to discuss the impacts and prevalence of radon in our area.  Short term radon test kits will be available.  In addition, 4CORE will conduct radon testing and education for low-income residents.

“I’m very pleased that we’re going to be able to provide this resource again and that we will have kits again,” said Wendy Rice, Extension Agent.  “There are a variety of factors that can impact the amount of radon drawn into a home. Two homes, sitting side by side, could have completely different radon levels,” she explained.  “You just can’t tell without testing.”

Radon has been definitively linked to lung cancer after long-term exposure. It is the primary cause of lung cancer second only to cigarette smoking, though it is easy to prevent through testing and mitigation.

EPA recommends mitigation for homes testing at four (4) picocuries per liter (pCi/l) or greater. Figures released by EPA showed that homes in Colorado are at high risk because of granite and soil content. Levels in La Plata County have ranged from 1 - 315 pCi/L.  If mitigation is needed it should only be done by National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) certified technicians.

The screening kit provided by CSU Extension Office ($5 with class/$10 without) is a complete three-day screening test that has no additional reading costs. The kit is a reliable tool and if results above four pCi/l are received, an additional test should be conducted before mitigation takes place.

The kits are easy to use and any interested resident is encouraged to contact the Extension office about participating in the testing program at 970-382-6465.

Low-income residents should contact 4CORE at 970-259-1916 to determine eligibility and schedule a test.

First Businesses ‘Going Beyond’

The Resource Smart Business Program (RSBP) is pleased to announce Renae Marie and the Durango Double Tree Hotel as the first businesses to be certified at the ‘Going Beyond’ level. This is the highest level of certification in the program and is only achieved by implementing three improvements in each area of energy efficiency, worksite wellness, and sustainability.

"We have worked hard to bring our business into the light, both literally and figuratively," said Renae Muller, owner of Renae Marie Apparel and Gifts. Our utility bills have decreased and our employees are enjoying new benefits. I feel good knowing that we are making a positive impact in our community and our world by becoming more sustainable with the eco-friendly products we carry and recycling efforts made within the store. The partnership with the RSBP and La Plata Electric Association have made reaching the ‘Going Beyond’ level of Resource Smart Certification an easier task."

Renae Marie made energy efficiency improvements, including changing their lighting system to LEDs,>installing weather stripping on the front door, and insulating their water heater. Worksite wellness was improved by creating "The Box of Gratitude" for employee recognition, providing a wellness package to staff that aligns with personal interests and needs, and providing healthy snacks for employees. Sustainability was improved by creating a new green business mission statement, carrying eco-friendly products, and re-purposing salvaged doors and wood to make display tables. These changes equate to an estimated $1,370 saved per year.

The DoubleTree Hotel in Durango changed their rooftop, restaurant, and parking lot lighting to LEDs, and upgraded the meters on the rooftop air handlers to improve energy efficiency. Sustainability improvements include sharing sustainability information and tips with staff and stakeholders, setting up new computers on power strips, proposing a Director of Sustainability to coach all of the Hilton branches on integrating sustainability into hotel operations, and joining the City of Durango’s ‘Way to Go club’ to encourage alternative commuting methods. Wellness actions include the creation of a comprehensive wellness program focused on physical activity, mental wellness and healthy eating, with a mentor program and support system for achieving individual plans and goals, an incentive system to encourage and track participation, provision of healthy meals at work, a corporate discount rate at the Durango Recreation Center for employees, and wellness education in newsletters. These upgrades are anticipated to save them almost $14,000 in annual operation costs.

Renae Marie is located at 809 Main Ave. in Durango or at www.facebook.com/pages/Renae-Marie-Apparel. The DoubleTree in Durango is located at 501 Camino Del Rio and can be found at http://doubletree3.hilton.com. 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.

About RSBP

The Resource Smart Business Program is a voluntary certification program that helps La Plata County businesses identify potential areas for improvement and implement smart business decisions that reduce operational costs, improve employee wellness, boost brand integrity, and increase profitability. Participating businesses learn how to assess energy consumption, worksite wellness and overall sustainability. Businesses that complete the six-step certification and make positive changes based on program recommendations become ‘Resource Smart Certified’ and receive recognition and promotion for their efforts. RSBP is administered by the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) in collaboration with , Local First that was awarded to La Plata County in 2012. For more information, please visit www.resourcesmartbusiness.com.

Put your Money Where Your House Is

While you read this, if you read this, I want you to think about your favorite appliance. Mine is, without a doubt, the refrigerator (more on this later).

Let me first take a moment to tell you about 4CORE. 4CORE is a 5 year old 501(c)3 not for profit organization, with the mission to serve Southwest Colorado as the leading resource for the effective and efficient use of energy to promote and sustain vibrant local communities.

What exactly does that mean? It means we are working to curb the dollars each of us spend to buy energy for transportation, our homes, as well as our work place in order to keep money from leaving our community (we are energy importers). Energy has been cheap for a long time, so conserving it and the dollars to buy it hasn't seemed to matter, but as energy costs increase, it does matter. It matters for your wallet and for our community.

The obvious extension is that energy matters for our country and for the whole world. I believe it also matters for the environment. A quick look at a few numbers is pretty staggering: Viewing the global population calculator, which, as I'm writing this blog, is reading 7.2 billion people. This is mind boggling, and leads me to invoke the word ‘sustainable’ (able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed, involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy).

If I were to ask you how your job or your marriage was, and you said, “it’s sustainable”, that doesn't sound very good. So let me ask you, rhetorically, to ponder if you think our current energy consumption levels are sustainable? This reminds me of the bumper sticker ‘Earth First- we’ll mine the other planets later’.

Where We Have Come From

A Watt Steam Engine, fueled by coal,
propelled the Industrial Revolution 

The coal fired ‘Watt Steam Engines’ of the early industrial revolution are now around 250 years old, so aside from having fires in our caves for a long time, the machine age and now gadget age are relatively young. To bring this dialog home the Durango Discovery Museum/Power House, which was commissioned in 1893 is now 120 years old. This was the same year of the iconic Chicago Worlds Fair, where Alternating Current (AC) electricity lit the ‘White City’ and Pabst Beer won the ‘Blue Ribbon’ as a micro brewery).

Durango always seems to be on the cutting edge. Back then each small town had to have their own power generation as the ‘grid’ we appreciate today wasn't available. Each town also had their own diaries, saw mills… One might say that communities were more sustainable, or independent. 

My, How We Have Grown

http://visual.ly/how-does-american-energy-consumption-measure-global-context

How do we, in the United States rate on the global scale of energy use? It is nice to see that the U.S. is still number 1, but I am afraid that China and India will probably surpass us in time. Compared to the world La Plata County only has 51,000 people with almost 26,000 housing units (actually, 25,860 housing units according to the 2010 census).

The average home uses $84 worth of electricity/month equaling around $1000 per year, multiplied by 26,000 homes equals over $26,000,000 million/per year spent on residential electricity in La Plata County (this does not count industrial or commercial uses).

If you recall, my Favorite Appliance is the Refrigerator
You have to love the thermodynamic cycle of a heat pump working in reverse to keep food and beer cold and fresh! My grandmother Ethel had an old chest cooler on her back porch in Washington D.C. where I grew up. She had an electric fridge inside the house, but always kept the old cooler stocked full of Frostie Root Beer on ice. This was a pre-electric ice chest, and before electrification, ice was cut from the Potomac River in the winter, capped with saw dust and stored in buildings, then delivered to the neighborhoods throughout the year.

Nothing tastes as sweet as that root beer used to from that antique cooler, and she would let me have as many as I wanted. I remember the milk man delivering whole milk to our back porch in heavy glass bottles, then picking up the empties. We continue to innovate as a species and things are different today. Our modern grocers stock almost everything imaginable year round. I have heard that the average piece of fruit travels 1,600 miles. However, the home grown fruit, or tomato is always the sweetest.

Our Durango Power House has evolved from producing its own power in 1893, to shutting the power house down in the mid 1970’s, and is now an awesome interactive museum.

Enough about our community, what about me? And you? 
In our evolution, let us remember how to innovate and evolve toward energy efficiency. The price of energy is increasing, as is the cost to our planet as we grow in population and use more. The first step starts, literally, at home. Find out how much energy you could be saving by getting a HomeRx assessment. Make the upgrades that will $ave you the most and make your home more comfortable.

Maybe you Buy Local, but take the next step... Put your money where your house is.

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.