This year, tour day was complimented with a lead-in seminar and a how-to-take-action seminar. The Pre-Tour Seminar educated participants on what to look for in tour homes, through a panel of building science experts and a walk-through of a home that recently had an energy audit. The Post-Tour Seminar addressed new energy programs being subsidized by the County and City, as a result of the national "Retrofit Ramp-Up" grants. These programs will directly benefit homeowners and landlords, and you will learn how to use the incentives to jumpstart energy upgrades at home.
Seminar #1: Energy Use in Green Retrofits vs. Conventional Homes – a Tour Preview
Wednesday, September 22, 5:30–8:30pm, $25 (includes dinner)
at Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street, Boulder
Click here to view the presentation.
In association with Boulder Green Building Guild, as a Building On Site Seminar
(BOSS) Event
Sponsored by
Seminar #2: Applying Tour Technologies to Your Home & Available Incentives
Wednesday, September 29, 7–9pm, $5
at Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street, Boulder
Click here to view the presentation.
In association with Boulder County, announcing their new Residential Energy Program.
Sponsored by
Seminar #1:
Title: Energy Use in Green Retrofits vs. Conventional Homes – a Tour Preview
Panelists: Eric Doub, Ron Flax, David Neiger, Paul Norton
Description:
How do conventional homes use energy? How can green homes and green retrofits reduce typical energy use, enhance comfort, improve air quality, improve safety, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions? How do these technologies affect homeowners' expenses (mortgage + utility costs)?
Please join our expert panel as they explain building science, in simple terms that all homeowners can understand. You will learn how building components and systems interact, where energy is used (and typically wasted), and how you can economically address these issues. There will also be discussions about City and County building codes and the coming SmartRegs policies for rental properties. After the lecture, all attendees will walk next door to a home that is on the market and just recently had an energy audit conducted. You will see the applications of building science just discussed and better be able to understand what to look for when touring homes on the Boulder County Solar & Green Homes Tour.
Biographies:
Eric Doub: Founder & CEO Ecofutures Inc., Bachelor of Science, Engineering & Political Science Stanford University. With over 15 years experience in homebuilding, Eric helped formulate the City of Boulder’s Green Points Remodeling Program and is a founding member of the Boulder Green Building Guild. Widely acknowledged as an expert in all areas of green building, Eric is a regular contributor to numerous leading green building publications, conferences, and advisory committees.
Ron Flax: Associate AIA, LEED AP, is an Associate and Project Manager at Rodwin Architecture and has been a member of the sustainable building community for the past 14 years. He has experience with both residential and commercial green projects, including the second LEED Platinum Home in Colorado (which was the highest scoring home in the country at the time of its certification).
David Neiger: Principal, Populus Sustainable Design Consulting, degree in Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. David is a RESNET Certified Quality Assurance Designee and Home Energy Rater, a LEED for Homes Accredited Professional, a BPI Certified Building Analyst, and a RESNET Green Rater. David provides energy modeling and consulting to architects and builders who seek to achieve zero energy homes, above-code energy performance and green building certifications. David currently serves as an Advisor on the City of Boulder's Climate Action Plan Residential Technical Team, and he performed the case studies for SmartRegs.
Paul Norton: Senior Project Leader with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering. Paul has specialized
Seminar #2:
Title: Applying Tour Technologies to Your Home & Available Incentives
Description:
Now that you’ve seen the green homes on the tour, please join us to learn how you can take advantage of the latest subsidized programs and incentives. The County of Boulder has received federal funds to expand both the scope of services and the number of homes served by the Residential Energy Action Program (REAP, currently managed by the Center for Resource Conservation).
This yet-to-be-named next generation program will provide as many as 18,000 single family homes, condos, and apartments with energy audits, customized energy and financial modeling, rebates, and consulting to reduce energy use. Learn how this program works in conjunction with other City and County programs and how this process will give you an actionable plan for your own home. There have never been so many incentives on the table for Boulder County homeowners to save energy (and money). Find out how you can get your share.
Biography:
Brad Queen is the Energy Division Director at the Center for Resource Conservation. Brad holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and has performed graduate work in building energy systems, energy policy, power electronics, power generation, and renewable energy systems. He helped develop the energy use and emissions model for the University of Colorado's carbon neutrality plan.
