ClimateSmart Loan Program Round 2

A friendly reminder that Boulder County has launched the second round of the ClimateSmart Loan Program with over $19 million available for residential improvements.

Take advantage of a program that provides full upfront financing for over 40 different residential energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Sign up for a mandatory homeowner workshop today and learn more at www.ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org. Applications are due no later than September 7, 2009.

Mandatory Homeowner Workshop Schedule:

BOULDER

· 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, August 5
Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street

· 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 10
Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street

· 10 am-noon., Saturday, August 15
Boulder County Courthouse, 3^rd Floor Main Building, 1325 Pearl Street

· 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, August 19
Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street

· 10 am-noon., Saturday, August 29
Boulder County Courthouse, 3^rd Floor Main Building, 1325 Pearl Street

· 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, September 1
Center for ReSource Conservation, 2639 Spruce Street

ERIE

· 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 11
Erie Community Center, 450 Powers St.

LONGMONT

· 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, August 8
Longmont Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St.

· 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 13
Longmont Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St.

· 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 27
Longmont Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St.

· 6-8 p.m., Monday, August 31
Longmont Civic Center, 350 Kimbark St.

LYONS

· 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 18
Location: Lyons Town Hall, 432 5th Avenue

NEDERLAND

· 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 4
Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72

· 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 20
Nederland Community Center, 750 Highway 72

SUPERIOR

· 6-8 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Superior Town Hall, 124 East Coal Creek Dr.

· 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, August 26
Superior Town Hall, 124 East Coal Creek Dr.

Register for a workshop at (http://crc-climatesmartloan.wildapricot.org/)

Solar Hybrid Systems Save $$$ on Space Heat

Hybrids are not just for cars anymore but in fact span many Green systems in our modern world. That’s because the power of two things combined is greater than that of one. But we don’t often think of our homes or buildings as a place for hybrids. Well think again.

In an effort to solver the problem of the future – sure increases in natural gas costs – new technology in heating systems replaces gas forced-air with hydronic hybrid heat. While it is true that new high-efficiency furnaces provide heat at a much higher efficiency level than furnaces of old, they don’t solve the problem of natural gas use. A gas forced air furnace whether new or old, is, was and will always be fired by gas. So while these new furnaces help solve an immediate problem, they don’t allow the average home owner to take advantage of the new frontier of heating that is Solar Thermal (hot water).

Hot water hybrid systems are the only kind of thermal systems that can take advantage of solar thermal integration. In a new retrofit application for homes, gas forced air heat can easily be converted to a hot water coil system by using a tankless water heater to create both domestic hot water and space heat. This creates a thermal system which sets up homeowners for even more energy independence by allowing the home to be heated by solar thermal energy.

Household thermal systems are best backed by a tankless water heater which remains idle when no hot water is being used, so there is no energy wasted for the standby losses of an electric water tank and when there is no demand. So the solar tank can be heated for free, and the tankless just serves to take up the slack when the sun isn’t doing its job, or first thing in the morning when the solar tank is cooled down and you want a long hot shower. The reality is that, even when the solar tank is below 100 degrees it will still contribute to energy efficiency, because the tankless will only use the energy needed to finish the job. Tankless water heaters will produce more flow and run more efficiently when they have warmer water introduced to them, maximizing the year round potential of solar hot water.

If we continue to install conventional furnaces in our homes, we will always be stuck with a system that is difficult to augment with alternative energy sources. So the first step is to convert that gas forced-air furnace into something that will allow for new technology as it becomes affordable. That starts with a hot water hybrid heating system at home, and supplementing commercial boiler systems with solar thermal panels.

The Nation Goes Green in Response to Stimulus Cash

I attended the Colorado USGBC Conference – Sustainability ’09 about a month ago. It was a great opportunity to hear the latest about the new Green Building LEED rating system, v.3.0 2009. Other highlights included a joint session with Tim Guiterman from the Governor’s Energy Office and Mike Lowell, the Region 8 Federal Building manager. They discussed the Government STIMULUS and how this will bring jobs and growth to Colorado.

Region 8 got $5.5 Billion for Building Projects: $1 Billion for New Construction & $4.5 Billion to upgrade Existing Buildings. They are all required to be LEED SILVER standards. For opportunities to be involved in these projects see http://fedbizopps.cos.com they have a goal to work with Small Businesses whenever possible.

Colorado Department of Energy has $3.1 Billion plus there is another $2.6 Billion for Energy Efficiency and Conservation in a Block Grant. While the money is starting to flow into the state, how will this translate to those in the green building profession or to homeowners who want a more efficient home?

www.usgbc.org/leedv3 MORE ON LEED www.gbci.org (MORE ON BECOMING A LEED PROFESSIONAL)

In the City of Denver ½ of all Greenhouse Gas Emissions are from BUILDINGS

35% Commercial/Industrial & 14% Residential www.greenprintdenver.org

In Colorado, GSA owns 89 federal buildings totaling 6.79 million rental square feet (RSF) and it leases approximately 4.08 million RSF in 157 buildings for a total of 10.877 million RSF of workspace. Approximately 274 GSA employees manage and maintain this federal workspace, the majority of which is office and warehouse space. The primary tenants include:

• U.S. Geological Survey
• Bureau of Reclamation
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Bureau of Land Management

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_OVERVIEW&contentId=19345

Details are just coming out on exact dollar amounts and additional federal guidance on how to direct recovery funds for renewable energy, energy efficiency, weatherization and new energy research projects within Colorado. Check the Colorado GEO’s recovery website at www.colorado.gov/energy/recovery in the coming weeks for updates.

For now, the word on the street is that Green Building IS becoming mainstream. Thanks Brad Pitt.

“Gen Y wants high-tech convenience and communication, walkability, green building standards and diversity. They'll sacrifice space, and some will even pay more, to incorporate those qualities into their lives, real estate experts say." - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution