Look to the CRC to Help You Accomplish Your 2009 Conservation Goals

2009 is the year of Conservation in Action

With a new year and a fresh start, the CRC wants to help you make 2009 the year of Conservation In Action in and around your home.  Not only will it help you save a chunk on your bills each month but you’ll also feel pretty darn good about reducing your impact on the planet.

The CRC has a great year planned!  Our goal is to give you the tools to take tangible conservation action in your home to reduce your energy & water consumption, reduce your waste and/or appropriately redirect it for beneficial second use, and other practical, easy-to-do conservation measures.

So mark your calendars with the following dates and plan to attend. Remember - we all have to start somewhere to reduce our impact on the planet, and there’s no better place than here and now.  We wish all of our CRC fans health and happiness in 2009 and look forward to seeing you at many of this year’s events!

SAVE THE DATES!

Thursday, January 22, 2009 CRC HOSTS A FREE WORKSHOP FOR HOMEOWNERS TO LEARN ABOUT SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS AND A NEW REBATE AVAILABLE IN 2009
	Did you know? Heating water for bathing, laundry, and dishwashing accounts for up to 30% of household fuel consumption.
At this workshop, NREL Senior Scientist, Jay Burch will teach participants how solar thermal systems harness energy from the sun and can help you save money on heating your home’s hot water. In addition, CRC staff will outline the details of the new solar thermal rebate to be offered by the Governor's Energy Office in partnership with the City of Boulder and the CRC. The workshop is on Thursday, January 22nd, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street, Boulder. Click here to email your RSVP or call (303) 999-3820 x213.
Monday, February 2, 2009 GEO REBATES AVAILABLE TO FIX "ORPHANED" SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEMS It's time to get your solar thermal system working again
	If you have a non-performing or under-performing solar hot water system at your home, now is the time to get it working again. With energy prices rising it makes good economic sense to get your idle solar system operating at peak performance. You’ve already got much of the equipment you need and a new Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) rebate can help.
The Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC), with support from GEO, Boulder County and the city of Boulder, will be offering the Orphan Solar program again from February 2 through June 30, 2009. The program will provide a system evaluation and 30% of the total repair cost, with a cap of $3,000, to bring “orphaned” solar systems back to life, so that they provide you with hot water and heat for many years to come. The system evaluation fee will be within the range of $150-225. If the homeowner chooses to have the needed repairs implemented, the fee is included in the total cost, and rebated at a rate of 50%. If the homeowner chooses not to do the repairs, the homeowner pays 50% of the fee and the program will rebate the other 50%. Rebates for homes will be issued for systems reinstated after the official launch date of February 2, 2009 only. Click here for more information, or to schedule an evaluation, email J.C. Martel, or call (303) 999-3820 x224.
Monday, March 2, 2009 POPULAR GARDEN-IN-A-BOX GOES ON SALE! Attention Golden, Longmont, Loveland, and Boulder residents!
	Plan to reduce your summer outdoor water consumption by purchasing an assortment of water-friendly plants complete with a corresponding professionally-designed landscape plan and planting & care instructions. If you are a Boulder resident you can also order water-friendly trees at a reduced price along with instructions for planting and care through our Trees Across Boulder program. For more information email or call (303) 999-3820 x217.
Monday, April 6 – Friday, April 10, 2009 WATERWISE LANDSCAPE WORKSHOPS
	Learn how to plan, plant, and care for a water-friendly landscape during these free seminars. From getting started to more advanced topics, there is surely a workshop to suit your needs. More details will be available soon. In the meantime, email or call (303) 999-3820 x217.
Sunday, April 19, 2009 1ST ANNUAL BOULDER EARTH FEST CRC’s Earth Day 5k joining forces with other Earth day events for Boulder Earth Fest
	You heard it here first! This year the CRC is expanding our Earth Day 5k into a full-blown celebration of sustainability and community by combining the activities of other Earth Day celebrations into one. Planning continues for the days’ events and will include the ED5k (a Bolder Boulder qualifier!), the Dirt Day Adventure Challenge, hands-on family activities, booths where you can learn more about Boulder’s sustainable businesses & organizations, live music, and plenty of food. More details to come! If you are interested in participating as a food or beverage vendor, entertainer, or boothing please email Kim Knickerbocker for more information.
Friday, June 5, 2009 CRC ANNUAL DINNER & AUCTION
	Mark your calendars for the most fun you’ll ever have at a nonprofit fundraiser!  We’re moving our annual event to a warmer time of year and a beautiful new location so our guests can fully experience Boulder’s unique climate, culture, and scenery. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Monday, June 8, 2009 SLOW THE FLOW AUDIT SEASON BEGINS Free sprinkler inspection program sure to make the most of outdoor water usage
	No matter how big or small your landscape, chances are you use more water than you need to keep it healthy.  Schedule a FREE sprinkler system inspection with a trained water auditor and learn how to fine-tune your system to use less water and get a greener landscape than ever! Program season ends August 14th. For more information click here, email us, or call (303) 999-3820 x217.

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Calculate Your Carbon Footprint

Still looking for a New Year’s resolution – calculate and pledge to reduce your carbon footprint

In collaboration with:

For anyone resolving to reduce their impact on the environment during 2009, calculating your carbon footprint is a great first step.  Many online tools exist to help you calculate your footprint, and they only take about 15-20 minutes to complete (it is helpful if you first call your energy provider to ask them for the total number of kw and therms used in the prior year).  The CRC recommends using the ClimateSmart calculator, as it was specifically designed to calculate carbon emissions for Boulder residents.  The ClimateSmart calculator can help you measure emissions from your home, car, travel, and trash.  Other online calculators like CarbonFootprint.com take the additional step to help you analyze how behaviors like buying organic, eating local produce, or choosing not to eat red meat effect your footprint. 

Once you know your score, it is pretty easy to determine the best places to try and reduce emissions.  As an example, if you commute long distances or travel frequently on planes, your transportation emissions will be high, and this might be the best place to make reductions.  For the nearly 50% of Boulder residents who are renters, reducing household emissions or composting may not be an option; however, you might consider eliminating red meat from your diet or buying more organic produce.  There are lots of ways to make meaningful reductions in your carbon footprint, many of which simultaneously help you to save money.  So if you are yet to make a New Year’s resolution, the CRC suggests that you calculate your carbon footprint now and set a goal to reduce it by 10 or 20%.  A goal like this might seem daunting now, but once you know your score, achieving these reductions could be as simple as staying close to home for one vacation or purchasing more local produce.

During December, CRC staff all measured their carbon footprint.  Results ranged from 7.4 to 16.3 metric tons (the average for Boulder residents is 24.1) with the largest variables resulting from staff living in an inefficient rental unit, traveling frequently to visit families on the coasts, and eating meat.  Everyone on staff was already conscious how the majority of their behaviors effected the environment, but the process of calculating carbon emissions really helped to raise some red flags.  Several staff members have made New Year’s resolutions to reduce their footprint by up to 15% and the staff as a whole will be meeting soon to discuss an organization wide goal for 2009.  We look forward to keeping you posted on our progress throughout the year!

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Solar Thermal Rebates Available Starting in February

The CRC, in partnership with Boulder County and the City of Boulder, will be administering the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) Solar Rebate Program for Boulder County residents starting in February

The CRC will provide rebates for up to one hundred households for the installation of new solar hot water (SDHW) systems. The rebates will allow customers to install solar systems at considerable savings. The 2009 residential SDHW rebates levels are:

• Tier 1: $1,500
  • Based on the following system parameters as the minimum eligibility requirements: Minimum of 60,000 BTU/day, based on SRCC ratings at clear day/C interval, with nominal 80 gallon minimum solar tank size.
• Tier 2: $750
  • Based on the following system parameters as the minimum eligibility requirements: 30,000 – 59,999 BTU/day, with a nominal 50 gallon minimum solar tank size.

The CRC will begin accepting rebate applications on February 2, 2009. Applications will be reviewed and upon approval, customers will receive a rebate reservation. Customers will have ninety days from the date of the reservation to complete the installation process. Funds are limited, so rebates will be first come, first serve – unless demand exceeds rebate funds on February 2nd, in which case a lottery will be held to award rebates.

Click here to visit the CRC website and learn details about eligibility, how to apply, and the approved contractor list. Rebates for homeowners will only be issued for systems installed after the official launch date of February 2, 2009.

To learn more about the benefits of solar thermal and how the rebate works, attend the FREE workshop on Thursday, January 22, 2009 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street in Boulder. Click here to RSVP or call 303-999-3820 x 213.

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Go Green, Save Green, and Accomplish Your New Year's Goals at ReSource!

ReSource welcomes all of your un-needed building supplies

Did you make a New Year's resolution this year to GO GREEN?
How about to get organized? If so, donate all the extra building materials in your garage or basement to ReSource.

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Rent Office Space at the CRC!

Are you or someone you know looking to rent an environmentally- friendly office?

View floor plan & full details

The CRC is seeking a tenant with green, environmental ethics to rent a 125 square foot office space within our newly green-remodeled offices. Wireless access and shared use of the kitchen and bathrooms are included. The office is also available furnished. Copier use, phone service, and cleaning service are negotiable. Minimum lease of 6 months is required, $550/month. The office is available for rent immediately. Call Kate at 303-999-3820 x218 or click here to email her if you are interested.

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