Go Solar

2007-01-22T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sierra Club Energy Committee Meeting – Jan-23 7PM

At the next Sierra Club IPG Energy Committee meeting, Diane Dandeneau, the executive director of the ConservED Project and Colorado Interfaith Power & Light, will speak about “Living Lighter on the Planet” – How to measure and reduce your environmental impact through integrating your personal values with practical actions. You’ll learn about barriers to behavior change and the most important areas you can focus on to really make a difference.

She will also introduce their pilot program for their Energy Impact Analysis(tm) and “100^th Human Initiative”, which is co-sponsored by the City of Boulder. Using customized software, 100 families will analyze their lifestyle’s energy and CO2 footprint, and then receive recommendations for their best options for reducing their impact and saving money. With a goal to reduce the groups total impact by 25%, this fun (up to) 12-month program will provide ongoing measurement, feedback, and support through online and group education, recognition and rewards. Are your ready to lead the change? Find out if you might be one of the hundred.

The mission of the ConservED Project is to empower individuals and businesses to understand their global impact, connect with their deepest values and live sustainably from the heart. Colorado Interfaith Power and Light’s mission is to bring the conversation of climate change to the faith community and to help people live as faithful stewards of the earth. Ms. Dandeneau’s background includes working in renewable energy, owning her own software company, consulting in oil and gas, writing, spiritual teaching, music and art. She consciously left the corporate world to pursue a life with meaning and to provide positive solutions for the new challenges in our changing world. You can find more information at: www.conserved.org or call 303-444-4323.

Meeting location will be: Meadows Branch Library, 4800 Baseline Road (Behind the Safeway in the Meadows Shopping Center at Baseline and Foothills).

Meeting Time: Tuesday, Jan-23, 7 – 8:45PM

Agenda:

Introductions (7:00-7:05)
Update on Boulder’s Climate Action Plan (7:05-7:20)
Diane Dandeneau of the ConservED Project (7:20-8:45)

2006-11-10T15:20:00.000-08:00

Thank You - 202 Victory

I just wanted to send out a heartfelt Thank You to everyone who tirelessly campaigned for Measure 202, the Climate Action Plan tax. It passed by a wide margin (about 10,800 to 8,000), indicating the wide majority of voters take climate change / global warming seriously, and are willing to step up and be responsible for solving this largely man-made problem. Thanks also to those who turned out and voted for the measure.

There are 2 main directions we can go from here:

Expand the campaign state-wide for Colorado
Implement the Climate Action Plan, which will benefit from Citizen involvement

Who wants to Save The World?

2006-11-06T14:55:00.000-08:00

Randy Luallin for Boulder County Commissioner

I would like to endorse Randy Luallin for Boulder County Commissioner in the upcoming election. Randy is an avid outdoors man, and supports and appreciates open space. I have personally known Randy for years and find him to be concerned for his fellow man, as well as a committed steward of the land.

Randy also is very involved with renewable energy and efficient housing one only has to see where he lives and check out his website www.randyluallin.com. He gave me a tour of the house he built with his own hands. It is a masterpiece of energy efficiency and working with nature, while having minimal impact on the land.

I believe that Randy will be fair and impartial in all regards, including Land Use Policies and budget decisions. Everyone can expect to get a response as well as a hearing with regards to County issues something currently lacking in the present Board of Commissioners. Anyone who has had dealings with Randy would agree that he is honest and cares about people.
Here's a speech Randy gave.

Please vote for Randy Luallin for Boulder County Commissioner.

2006-10-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

Sierra Club Energy Committee Meeting
Tuesday, Oct-17 7-9PM

The topic of the next Sierra Club IPG Energy Committee will be Boulder's Climate Action Plan, Principles and Practices. It's time to roll up our sleeves and make our buildings work better and waste less. With a focus on identifying and applying the most cost effective solutions to big problems, this presentation should help put Measure 202 in perspective, showing what a community should and CAN do to make a big difference. There will also be some quick previews of coming attractions in design tactics and emerging technologies associated with achieving energy-efficient new communities.

The presenter is Larry Kinney, PhD, President of Synertech Systems Corporation, an energy efficiency research, development, and demonstration organization headquartered in Boulder. Larry also serves as Vice President for Product Development for Sunflower Corporation, a daylighting systems development firm. Active in energy conservation-related work for 30 years he has broad experience in weatherization program operations, fenestration systems, energy-efficient refrigeration, lighting and daylighting technologies, air handling and conditioning systems, and controls. He also has experience in energy efficiency program evaluation, from instrumentation design and building analysis to policy research. Larry did undergraduate work in Physics and Philosophy at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and holds a PhD in Philosophy from Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. He is the author of over 200 articles and reports to clients and is the co-holder of two US Patents on active daylighting systems.

Meeting location: George Reynolds Branch Library (downstairs meeting room), 3595 Table Mesa Dr (North of King Soopers , west of Broadway and Table Mesa Dr) CLICK for a map.
Meeting Time: Tuesday, October 17, 7-9PM
Agenda:

Introductions (7:00-7:05)
Campaign opportunities (7:05-7:15)
Update on Boulder's Climate Action Plan (7:15-7:20)
Boulder's Climate Action Plan, Principles and Practices (7:20-8:30)
Question & Answer (8:30-8:40)

Hope to see you there!

2006-10-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

Energy Events

Climate Smart Fundraiser on Oct 18
Eric Cornell was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2001 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Allin_Cornell), and will host a fundraiser party for Boulder City's Climate Action Plan (Vote YES on 202).

ClimateSmart Campaign Houseparty

Please join us for a houseparty and fundraiser for the ClimateSmart Campaign at the home of Dan Friedlander & Diane Rosenthal on Friday 13 Oct. Please RSVP to let us know if you will attend.

We hope to see you there!

If you're unable to view the invitation and/or RSVP on EVite, please email me.

Climate Smart Literature Drop
This is a great opportunity to get important info out to voters. Many people are aware of climate change, but don't yet know that Boulder City voters will have a chance to do something about it. Here are the scheduled times & meeting locations:

MONDAY - Oct 16 5:30 - 7:30ish
Meet up at Boulder Community Hospital
Enter at Alpine Ave, near Broadway

SATURDAY - Oct 21 8:30am - 11:30am
Meet up at the Environmental Center of the Rockies
2260 Baseline Road, sw corner of Broadway

Movie: TRANSFORMING ENERGY

WEDNESDAY - OCT 18 @ 7PM
Filmmaker CHUCK DAVIS Presents…
A one hour documentary about renewable energy- not about technology- but about the people who are on the ground now working to solve the two greatest challenges that face our world- global warming and the end of cheap oil. Post screening discussion with filmmaker
Location: On CU-Boulder campus at the ATLAS Center.

2006-10-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

Change The World!

Energy Awareness Month
Yesterday I failed to include Yael Gichon's contact info in the previous posting for Energy Awareness Month activities. Several people wanted to volunteer to help. Please contact:
Yael Gichon
City of Boulder, Environmental Affairs
Education and Outreach Specialist
Office: 303-441-3878
Fax: 303-441-4070
www.environmentalaffairs.com

See schedule of events.

Center for Resource Conservation Boulder Solar Week
This is a great organization and they need a large number of volunteers are needed to help with the Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes. To offer a hand and to find out more information please contact the Solar Week volunteer coordinator at 303-441-3278 ext. 24 or via e-mail.

CU Energy Initiative/NREL Symposium TODAY

In order to encourage innovative, collaborative research on Renewable and Sustainable Energy (R&SE), the University of Colorado and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will co-sponsor a Research Symposium and Seed Grant Competition. The primary goal of the Research Symposium is to allow researchers from both institutions to become aware of each other's R&SE projects and capabilities. Subsequently, the Seed Grant Competition will be used to encourage new, collaborative research projects in R&SE.
The Research Symposium will be held on Tuesday, October 3rd at the University Memorial Center on the Boulder Campus. The main activity for the Symposium will be a poster session in which individual faculty and scientists, together will members of their research groups, can display their ongoing and proposed research projects related to R&SE and, more importantly, find out what other types of researchinterests and expertise exist at NREL and on the CU Campuses. Posters on ALL aspects of R&SE are encouraged including:

• natural sciences and engineering
• business opportunities, technology transfer and commercialization
• policy and legislative dimensions
• social, cultural and/or philosophical dimensions
• economic aspects

REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2006

Sustainability expert to speak at Transit Village Area Planmeeting

Contact(s):
Jody Jacobson, Public Works, (303) 441-3200
Jodie Carroll, Media Relations, (303) 441-3155
www.bouldercolorado.gov

Sustainability expert to speak at Transit Village Area Plan meeting

The city of Boulder will host sustainability expert L. Hunter Lovins to
speak at a community meeting about the Transit Village Area Plan’s role in
sustainability from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the West
Senior Center, 909 Arapahoe Ave.

Lovins is president and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, Inc. (NCS),
a nonprofit organization that works to educate senior decision-makers in
business, government and civil society about the principles of
sustainability. Lovins has consulted for scores of industries and
governments worldwide, including the Pentagon, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the Department of Energy as well as with large and small companies
and communities around the world.

Lovin’s areas of expertise include natural capitalism, sustainable
development, globalization, energy and resource policy, economic
development, climate change, land management and fire rescue and emergency
medicine. She developed the Economic Renewal Project and was recipient of
such awards as the Right Livelihood Award and the Time Magazine 2000 Hero of
the Planet. She has co-authored nine books and hundreds of papers.

At the meeting, staff will review the four Transit Village Area Plan options
and will ask for feedback from the public. More information on the plan can
be found at www.bouldertransitvillage.net. For more information, contact
Ruth McHeyser at (303) 441-3292 or mcheyserr@bouldercolorado.gov or Louise
Grauer at (303) 441-3134 or grauerl@bouldercolorado.gov.

2006-10-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

Here's a great opportunity to get involved locally and make a positive difference globally. I'm forwarding this message from Yael Gichon, Education and Outreach Specialist with the City of Boulder, Environmental Affairs.

Greetings!

As many of you know, October is Energy Awareness Month. Additionally, we are working with Western Resource Advocates and the County to kick-off another Wind Challenge from 9/29-11/30. I will be setting up tables around town throughout the month of October to hand out free CFLs, promote the wind challenge, hand out energy conservation information, and register people for a drawing for a free energy audit.

I am looking for volunteers to help staff the tables. I can offer to provide lunch, since most of the times are during lunchtime.

The following is a list of confirmed venues, the dates in bold are the ones I could use a hand with. The times listed are the actual tabling times, so if people are available it would be great to hep set up 15-20 minutes ahead of time.

4-Oct	Wednesday	Whole Foods	11am - 2pm
5-Oct	Thursday	Pearl Street Mall	11am - 2pm
8-Oct	Sunday	Solar Home Tour	9am - 1pm
9-Oct	Monday	Boulder JCC – Inconvenient Truth	6 pm - 9pm
10-Oct	Tuesday	Main Library	10am -1 pm
16-Oct	Monday	King Soopers, South Boulder	11am - 2pm
18-Oct	Wednesday	Pearl Street Mall	11am - 2pm
24-Oct	Tuesday	Main Library	10am -1 pm
25-Oct	Wednesday	Whole Foods	11am - 2pm
26-Oct	Thursday	boulder book store; David Korten Event	7-9pm
30-Oct	Monday	Pearl Street Mall	11am - 2pm

Yael Gichon
City of Boulder, Environmental Affairs
Education and Outreach Specialist
Office: 303-441-3878
Fax: 303-441-4070
www.environmentalaffairs.com

2006-09-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendar!

American Solar Energy Society’s

11^th annual

National Solar Tour

Saturday, October 7, 2006*

Real solutions for energy independence

Real Places for Real People

• Experience solar electric, solar hot water, wind power,daylighting, and other green building options.

• Learn energy efficiency strategies and methods.

• Talk with the homeowners to learn how the technology works, what it costs, and why it makes sense.

• Nationally: more than 3,000 buildings in 1,600 communities in 44 states; 73% homes, 17% office/commercial/industrial/worship buildings, 7% schools, 3% government buildings; more than 90,000 in attendance expected this year.

Join us for the American Solar Energy Society’s

11th annual National Solar Tour

Find tours and dates near you at

www.NationalSolarTour.org

*Tours may be scheduled from September through November.

New information and tours are added through September.

Sponsored by

US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Fronius-USA

Sun Plans, Inc.

RenewableEnergyAccess.com

SOLAR TODAY magazine

FindSolar.com

American Solar Energy Society

2400 Central Ave, Ste. A

Boulder, CO 80301

www.ases.org

Colorado

Denver Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes
Date: Saturday, October 7th
Taking Place In: Denver, Arvada, Golden, Lakewood
Presented by: Colorado Renewable Energy Society
For More Information: Pamm McFadden 303-443-4308 pgosun@aol.com
Tour Description: From mountains to plains, rural to urban, this tour of roughly 15 homes covers all types of renewable technologies. The week before the tour we will hold several different educational workshops. The tour attendees will be able to meet with enthusiastic and well informed home owners. The booklet will have photos of the homes and explanations of all the features for each home.
Tour Fee: $20 per car
How to Take this Tour: The tour begins at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Visitor Center. We will have many exhibits available (for free) to all attendees.

Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes, Boulder Solar Week
Date: Sunday, October 8th
Taking Place In: Boulder, Longmont, Eldorado Springs, Foothills
Presented by: The Center for ReSource Conservation
For More Information: Jenny Hampton 303-441-3278 ext. 12
Tour Description: The Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes is part of Boulder Solar Week which includes a full week of educational workshops and a self-guided tour of homes where participants can meet homeowners, builders, contractors, and installers to ask questions and discuss opportunities.
In 2005, over 800 people participated in the CRC's Solar Week events. This year, Solar Week will be even better, with more homes, detailed information on energy savings and environmental benefits, and focused tours highlighting energy efficiency, green building, and renewable energy. The Tour of homes will be on Sunday October 8th.
Tour Fee: $20 per car / $10 per bike group
How to Take this Tour: Pre-register online at www.ConservationCenter.org or the day of at The Center for ReSource Conservation (1702 Walnut in Boulder).

Northern Colorado Solar Tour
Date: October 7th
Taking Place In: Fort Collins & Livermore
Local Tour Name: Northern Colorado Solar Tour
Presented by: Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society (NCRES)
For More Information: Greg Behm, info@ncres.org
Tour Description: Tour homes in Fort Collins and Livermore to see renewable energy and green building in use. Also tour the new Kinard JHS; ReSource, the reclaimed building materials store; and PV & fuel cell technology demonstrations.
Tour Fee: $5
How to Take this Tour: Advance guidebook sales start September 16, 2006 at ReSource, 1501 N. College Ave, and Cafe Ardour, 255 Linden Street. Tour day sales at ReSource 8:30-noon, and at The Forks, Hwys 287 & CR-74E, Livermore, 9-noon. Carpooling or bicycling encouraged (no transportation provided). For Livermore area tours, allow one hour minimum travel time from Ft. Collins. Visit www.ncres.org for more information.

Durango Solar Home Tour
Date: October 7th
Taking Place In: Durango and Bayfield
Local Tour Name: Durango Solar Home Tour
Presented by: SouthWest Colorado Renewable Energy Society
For More Information: Contact Diane Mee, 970-588-3641, e-mail atevans@gobrainstorm.net, website www.swcres.org
Tour Description: Visit homes in the Durango area in the morning and Bayfield homes in the afternoon which incorporate renewable energy systems. Join us on the evening of the 6th at Fort Lewis College for informative talks on renewable energy (RE).
Tour Fee: maps $5
How to Take this Tour: Maps are available for purchase on the evening of October 6th, at Fort Lewis College at the informative talks on RE, or at the Durango Farm Market on the 7th between 8am and noon at the SWCRES booth. Car pooling is encouraged.

Delta County Solar Home tour
Date: October 7th
Taking Place In: Paonia/North Fork Valley
Presented by: Solar Energy International (SEI) and Green Triangle, the Sustainability Committee for WSERC (Western Slope Environmental Resource Council)
For More Information: 970-527-5307 or allisone@paonia.com or jeff@solarenergy.org
Tour Description: This tour showcases homes in the North Fork Valley of Delta County. Both passive and active solar homes will be featured.
There will be examples of homes that use solar energy to generate electricity, produce hot water for domestic use, in-floor heating, and use the sun's radiant energy for space heating. You will see new homes and solar additions, some are made of adobe and strawbale. One is made of papercrete! There will also be a free slide show and talk at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts in Paonia, Friday, October 6th at 7:30, by Johnny Weiss, the Director of Solar Energy International. He will give an overview of buildings, energy use and construction and how it fits into the over all energy picture of the United States.
Tour Fee: $10 / $12 the day of the tour
Tour hours: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
How to Take this Tour: Self guided and car pools. Car pools will be formed at the Friday night event.
Ticket outlets: SEI at 39845 Matthews Lane in Paonia, WSRC Office at 395 Clark St. in Paonia, and Hardin's Natural Foods at 31424 Hwy 92 West of Hotchkiss, or call to reserve tickets.

Pikes Peak Area Solar Tour
Date: October 7,2006
Taking Place In: Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Calhan
Presented by: South East Colorado Renewable Energy Society [SECRES]
For More Information: Call the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce at 800-642-2567 / (719)685-5089 or send email to ppsolartour@pcisys.net
Tour Description: Start the tour at The Tutt Science Center at Colorado College, 1112 North Nevada where you will see Colorado College’s Mobile Environmental Science Lab and displays on geothermal heating and cooling, energy efficient lighting, and others. The tour features a number of net metered homes, a solar growing dome, an earthship with a photovoltaic system, a home with both active and passive solar features, a home with a photovoltaic system and sustainable landscaping, and a home that uses both solar panels and wind turbines to generate more energy than it uses.
How to Take this Tour: Maps and Directions will be available starting on Wednesday, October 4 at the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce building at 354 Manitou Avenue in Manitou Springs, 800-642-2567 / (719)685-5089. On the day of the tour, Maps and Directions will be on sale at the Chamber and at the official starting point for the tour, the Tutt Science Center on the Colorado College Campus.
The parking area for the Science Center can be accessed from Uintah Street between Nevada Avenue and Cascade Avenue or from Cascade Avenue just south of the intersection of Uintah and Cascade. A second parking area is located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Nevada Avenue and Uintah St.

2006-09-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

This blog covers energy-related issues, and attempts to offer solutions for all of the world's problems, many of which are energy-related.

What's the Problem?
There are numerous reasons to break from our old, destructive patterns of energy use. They include:

National Security: Continuing to rely on critical energy supplies from other nations is pure folly. America's oil production peaked in 1971, and we have increasingly relied on imported oil since then. Global oil production will likely peak within the next 5 years. Even the threat of disruption to US oil supply harms the US economy. Natural Gas is also being depleted, which will force us to choose between risky imports, dirtier fuels such as Coal, or renewable energy.
Environment: Face it -- we rely on the environment for survival. This isn't an abstract comment about Nature, it's about protecting the cleanliness and abundance of our drinking water supply, ensuring the success of our crops we eat. Climate Change / Global Warmingare really happening, and all serious scientists agree that burning fossil fuels causes this (except the ones paid by coal and oil companies).
Personal Security: As other coutries' economies grow (especially China, India, and Russia), those contries' consumers will burn more and more oil, leaving less for us to compete for, resulting in more drastic price swings.

What to do?

Switch: Start relying on energy that you control. Put a PV Solar Electricity system on your property. Technological developments and incentives make it very affordable. Start small if you have to, but start right away.
Conserve: Reducing your consumption means you need a smaller Solar Electric system, making it more affordable. Turn lights off when not in use. Change your light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs).
Get Involved: Find out for yourself how the world actually works. This requires looking beyond the mainstream, corporate media, whose survival depends on the status quo (or things becoming even worse). Try BBC.com for objective, truthful news. Then, meet & talk with your neighbors, write your congressfolk and newspaper editor, speak up at church. Vote! Vote based on your research, not image & soundbites.

For an easy-to-understand presentation of the Global Warming / Climate Change problem, see Inconvenient Truth or visit ClimateCrisis.org. This is being shown at many churches for free.

Go Solar!