Energizer Newsletter
August 26, 2009
Volume 2, Issue 10
Extension Clean Energy Outreach
by Leigh Fortson
Extension Regional Communications Coordinator and REA (Renewable Energy Advocate)
CSU In the News
The U.S. Department of Energy has selected Colorado State University for a $5 million grant to educate the public and train the workforce and emergency responders about the inner workings of hybrid and electric vehicles.
The grant is one of 48 advanced battery and electric drive projects announced as part of $2.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
Working with the university on the program are CSU Ventures, Arapahoe Community College and the Douglas County School District in Colorado, the Georgia Institute of Technology, KShare, Ricardo, and Motion Reality Inc.
Nationwide, the program is expected to create tens of thousands of jobs. The CSU grant alone – part of DOE’s “Advanced Electric Drive Vehicle Education Program” – is expected to create 85 jobs to help meet a national shortage of trained hybrid/electric technicians and help rebuild the struggling U.S. auto industry.
“DOE’s selection of Colorado State illustrates our track record in working with community partners, businesses and government organizations to develop real solutions that help solve environmental problems globally as well as at the local level,” said Bill Farland, senior vice president for Research and Engagement at Colorado State. “Together, we can build training programs that target the needs of industry as well as prepare our students – and young people in high school – on cutting-edge technological advancements.”
Diagram: A fuel cell harnesses the chemical energy of hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity without combustion or pollution. The only by-products are pure water and useful heat. Vehicles powered by fuel cells will be cleaner and more energy efficient than those powered by the internal combustion engine. Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Program. The DOE proposal was co-led by CSU Ventures’ Systems Solutions Group (SSG), Cenergy - the business arm of the Clean Energy Supercluster at Colorado State - and the College of Engineering. CSU Ventures is a subsidiary corporation of the Colorado State University Research Foundation.
Solar Soon to Power Some of CSU
Source: AMEC Earth & Environmental
Renewable Ventures, an Independent Power Producer (IPP) and a subsidiary of Fotowatio, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy companies, awarded a contract to AMEC, an international engineering and project management company, to install a 2-megawatt (MW) solar power plant at CSU’s foothill campus.
Work on the multi-million dollar project is expected to be completed at the end of 2010. Once completed, the 15-acre array of solar panels is expected to be one of the largest solar installations at a U.S. university and is projected to generate enough power to meet more than 10 percent of the campus’ electricity demand.
“We are delighted to partner with Renewable Ventures on this important renewable energy project to support Colorado State University’s green campus efforts,” said Tim Gelbar, President, AMEC’s Power and Process Americas business. “This is an exciting opportunity for AMEC as we continue our focus on renewable and clean energy solutions.”
Renewable Ventures is working with CSU and Xcel Energy in an innovative public-private partnership, to leverage tax credits and incentives to finance the Foothills Campus solar power system. This partnership will enable the university to deploy the solar array under a long-term electricity contract with Renewable Ventures known as a Power Purchase Agreement. CSU will provide the land under a long-term lease and will purchase the power produced from the solar array at a fixed rate for 20 years.
Xcel Energy signed an agreement with Renewable Ventures to purchase the renewable energy credits associated with the power being produced. At the end of the 20-year term, the university has an option to purchase the solar panels.
CSU’s Neighbor Saves $200k Annually using Solar Power
New Belgium Brewery, rated by Greenopia* as the “greenest” brewery on record, is getting greener thanks to a $1-million solar photovoltaic(PV) panel array on top of its packaging hall, which also contains the company’s bottling plant.
Many know the brewery by its flagship Fat Tire beer. What some don’t realize is that New Belgium is an organic brewer, which reduces pollution in nearby watersheds. New Belgium also has a lower water-resource usage (3.9 liters per liter of beer) than the industry average of 7 liters. The brewery also: gets its packaging materials locally which cuts down on vehicle emissions; encourages employees to bike to work; and provides superior environmental reporting, which Greenopia admits is surprising, given its size (436,000 barrels of beer in 2006, as compared to millions of barrels produced at other commercial plants).
This fall, the brewery plans to install a 200-kilowatt solar electric system. It will be funded with up to $450,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy through the FortZED project, a public/private venture in Ft. Collins that aims to create the world’s largest zero-energy district. It comprises businesses, institutions (the main campus of CSU) and homes operating with Smart Grid infrastructure and renewable energy technology.
According to Jenn Orgolini, sustainability director with New Belgium Brewery, this is the first solar project the company has undertaken, though the brewery gets 100 percent of its power through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for wind power from local utility Community Energy Inc.
The solar electricity system is scheduled to be operational by Nov. 19 of this year, and will provide up to 13 percent of the bottling plant’s electricity. According to New Belgium spokesman Bryan Simpson, Ft. Collin’s altitude of 5000 feet and 300 sunny days a year, means the system will likely be able to power the bottling plant for up to eight hours a day.
The system will be installed by Boulder-based Namaste Solar, an employee-owned solar designer, supplier, and installer whose most noteworthy projects – the rooftop PV system at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the roof of the governor’s mansion in Denver – were the highlight of President Obama’s announcement of the $787 billion Recovery Act from Namaste headquarters on Feb. 17, just four days after the bill was passed.
The 200-kilowatt system will represent the largest roof-mounted solar array in Larimer County.
*Greenopia According to their web site:
Greenopia provides consumers with high quality information to help them reduce their impact on the environment through their daily purchasing decisions. Greenopia publishes extensive green business directories, product directories, and brand directories, as well as offering a growing community, news articles, blogs, and tips to help everyone eat, shop, and live green.
News From 25x25
Renewable Electricity Exceeds 13 Percent of U.S. Total in May
The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) is reporting that net U.S. electrical generation from renewable energy sources, including biomass, geothermal, solar, water and wind, reached an all-time monthly high in May, accounting for 13 percent of total electrical generation in the United States.
According to an analysis by the Sun-Day Campaign, a sustainable energy advocacy organization, the EIA figures show that renewable sources generated 40.4 thousand megawatt-hours (Mwh) of electricity in May of this year (the latest month for which the EIA has figures), about 7.7 percent higher than the 37.5 thousand Mwh reported for the same month in 2008, and reportedly the highest monthly figure ever reported by EIA for renewably-generated electricity.
The 13 percent share includes 9.4 percent from conventional hydropower, 1.8 percent from wind, 1.3 percent from biomass, 0.4 percent from geothermal and 0.3 from solar thermal and photovoltaics.
Total net electrical generation in May 2009 from all sources, including renewables, fossil fuels, and nuclear, was 311.4 million Mwh, down 4.1 percent from the 324.6 million Mwh generated in May 2008. To access the EIA numbers, click here.
Energy Efficiency Seen as Key in Rebuilding America
Investments in building efficiency retrofits can simultaneously address the challenges of economic recovery, energy insecurity, and global warming by laying the foundation for sustained economic growth, driving demand in the construction and manufacturing sectors, and creating hundreds of thousands of good jobs across the country, according to a recent white paper issued by the Energy Future Coalition and the Center for American Progress, a 25x’25 endorsing partner.
Energy efficiency is the option of first choice in the 25x’25 Vision for a clean energy future and the report puts a renewed focus on effectively managing the expenditure of the nation’s energy sources. The paper is an outgrowth of “Rebuilding America,” a coalition created earlier this year that has brought together labor and industry leaders and energy policy advocates. Rebuilding America calls for a comprehensive energy savings and jobs program to retrofit 50 million buildings by 2020.
In the report, the authors note that buildings today account for 70 percent of all U.S. electricity consumption and 40 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Much of the housing and building stock is old, inefficient and unnecessarily wasteful. While building codes and green building standards offer a tool for achieving deep improvements in energy use for new buildings, half of the buildings that will be standing in 30 years already dot the U.S. urban and rural landscape.
However, deep building retrofits can cut energy use by 20 to 40 percent with proven techniques and off-the-shelf technologies. The improvements, the authors say, can pay for themselves from the energy they save. “Rebuilding America” aims to reduce energy bills across the economy by hundreds of billions of dollars annually and stimulate long-term economic activity by creating construction and manufacturing jobs.
Upgrading rural structures, including farm facilities, provides one of several ready markets for energy efficiency retrofits, whether it’s installing new light fixtures, insulation, programmable thermostats and controllers, more effective grain drying systems, or energy-free or low energy waterers.
“Rebuilding America” calls for specific public policies to encourage widespread private investments in energy efficiency and overcome barriers to a thriving nationwide marketplace for energy efficiency products and services. Among other hurdles, the authors cite the poor availability of information for consumers about their energy consumption, split incentives between building owners and tenants to invest in energy efficiency retrofits, and a lack of capital or access to capital to support investments in energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency programs like that advocated by “Rebuilding America” pay off with an immediate stimulus to counter the economic downturn, and will provide a long-term investment in the economy. They represent opportunities that should not be missed.
$2 Billon Slated to Boost Renewables Manufacturers
The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have released guidelines for the long awaited program to award $2.3 billion in tax credits to manufacturers of advanced energy equipment. Authorized by the Recovery Act, this new program will provide tax credits to manufacturers who produce renewable energy equipment.
"This program will attract billions of dollars of investment in manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and will create new jobs in states where they are needed most." -- Rhone Resch, CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association
The manufacturing tax credit is capped at $2.3 billion, and credits are available for two years or until the cap is reached. Companies can file applications for the first round of credit awards through October 16, 2009, and can expect to learn whether their applications are successful by January 15, 2010.
“…The renewable energy manufacturing tax credit will put America on track to once again be the global leader in solar manufacturing. This program will attract billions of dollars of investment in manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and will create new jobs in states where they are needed most. We expect solar-related provisions in the stimulus bill like this one to create 110,000 jobs in the solar industry in 2009 and 2010 combined. This news is especially welcome as unemployment hovers near 10 percent nationally,” said Rhone Resch, CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Click here for more information on how to apply for the tax credits.
Economic Climate Opens Door for Small Wind Energy Projects
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
Very few large-scale wind projects are able to obtain financing under the current economic climate. But falling turbine, steel and labor prices have created the perfect environment for mid-scale wind energy projects to thrive. Although total new installed capacity in 2009 may not rival the impressive 8,900 MW installed in North America in 2008, a golden opportunity exists for smaller wind development.
Small wind projects range in size from 100 kW to 30 MW and typically serve schools, farms, rural villages, businesses and municipal utility companies. Because these types of installations can access funding from various sources, they are less vulnerable to the credit crisis than their large-scale wind farm counterparts.
Universities often have means for raising funds for small wind projects. At Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, students agreed to pay an additional $5 fee per semester towards the installation of a 100 kW wind turbine this year.
Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota paid for the installation of its 1.65-MW turbine in 2004 from its operating budget and a second turbine may be added in the near future thanks to the generosity of a donor. Rob Lamppa, director of energy management at the college feels that now is definitely the right time to install this second turbine.
The manufacturers weren’t interested in selling small quantities, but now stagnant inventories and a growing sense of desperation are pushing them toward smaller markets.
“In the heat of all the development that was going on last year, there was definitely the feeling that smaller projects were getting squeezed,” says Kathy Belyeu, manager of industry information services for the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) . “If you weren’t able to go to the turbine manufacturer and purchase a big quantity of turbines, they weren’t really going to talk to you.”
With the economic crisis taking its toll on wind energy development in 2009, large turbine manufacturers are paying more attention to the mid-scale market, giving smaller projects greater accessibility to utility-grade turbines.
Choosing the right turbine for small projects is crucial for many reasons, not the least of which is operation and maintenance (O&M). Small project developers need to be sure that qualified technicians will be available to service the machines when needed without large transportation expenses or extended downtimes.
“If the project is too small to have a service and maintenance crew, then your operating costs per turbine are going to be higher,” says Wes Slaymaker, owner of a wind-farm consulting firm. “A smaller project, however, can choose the same type of turbine as a larger project nearby so the crew can easily travel over and service their machines.” 
Whereas in the past, this wasn’t an option for smaller project developers, now they have a variety of utility grade turbines available to them.
The fear that O&M costs will skyrocket is often a stumbling block for schools and other potential small project developers who are thinking about going forward with a wind project.
“Schools are very interested in doing a lot more wind projects,” says Slaymaker. “They are figuring out how to do it. They just want the financial assurance that they won’t have to dig into their own pockets to run the project.” Mechanical failures are one of the main reasons this would happen.
U.S. government support for wind energy through net-metering laws and an extension of the renewable energy production and investment tax credits offers stability to the industry, while stimulus funding provides a boost. In addition to the $1.6 billion in CREBs that is available to state and local governments, municipal utility companies and rural electric cooperatives, some state or local governments also offer grant or rebate programs.
Such incentives make wind projects more attractive, as do lower commodity and labor costs. “We’re already seeing manufacturers come back and say, ‘The steel prices have come down so much that the tower is now $100,000 cheaper,’” says Slaymaker. “Since the economic collapse in late 2008, steel prices have come down at least 50 percent. The cost of labor has also come down because there are a lot of contractors looking for work.”
While these factors also benefit large wind projects, the financing difficulties that are plaguing the industry now have made it harder for large wind developers to take advantage of them so smaller developers, with greater access to capital, can step right in.
This special window of opportunity for smaller projects will not last forever. Although some encouraging factors will remain, the large-scale wind industry is likely to pick up as soon as liquidity returns to the market.
Although 2009 may be a year to survive for some players in the wind industry, it presents a golden opportunity for the mid-scale market. Time will tell if this opening will result in a boom in this segment of the industry.
“If this opportunity for smaller projects is successful, we will start seeing the turbines ordered this year for projects to be installed later in the year or in 2010,” says Slaymaker. “It sounds like there are a number of small to mid-size projects working towards turbine purchase right now.”
Airlines To Use Synthetic Diesel for Ground Service Equipment
The Air Transport Association of America, Inc. (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S. airlines, announced that Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, UPS Airlines and US Airways have signed an agreement with Rentech, Inc. and Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) to purchase up to 1.5 million gallons per year of renewable synthetic diesel fuel (RenDiesel). The diesel is used in ground service equipment. The agreement is for services at Los Angeles International Airport, beginning in late 2012, when Rentech's plant to produce the fuel is scheduled to go into service.
The renewable RenDiesel will be produced at the commercial-scale facility that Rentech is developing in Rialto, California, primarily from urban woody green waste such as yard clippings. The fuel is expected to have a low carbon footprint and minimal particulates.
ASIG, which provides fueling services to many airlines that operate at LAX, will handle receipt and dispensing of the RenDiesel. Other discussions regarding potential alternative fuels agreements are continuing through the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, of which ATA is a founding member.
Career Website for Green Jobs
GreenFoot Technologies launched its career portal for green jobs. GreenFootJobs.com is a free marketplace for candidates seeking green jobs and allows professionals to post resumes which can be accessed by green employers. By combining resumes and detailed profile pages with green job opportunities, GreenFootJobs.com offers a comprehensive marketplace for career seekers and career providers in the green industry.
"Market response to our GreenFootJobs.com website and career board has been excellent," said Wade Bodlovic, CEO of GreenFoot Technologies. "Since our soft introduction in March, GreenFootJobs.com has seen 250% growth month over month.”All indications from both our career providers and career seekers suggest that we can expect to continue our strong growth results," added Bodlovic.
Leveraging the experience of in-house professional Green Industry Recruiters, skilled Web Developers and Designers, GreenFootJobs.com has created a powerful one-stop shop that green businesses are utilizing to significantly improve their challenging talent acquisition needs. Additionally, GreenFoot has committed to rewarding its members who use the site by paying out $50.00 for referrals that are hired via the portal. Job seekers who are looking to "green" their careers are encouraged to upload their resumes to GreenFoot where many industry leading employers are able to browse them and potentially qualify them for open positions.
"GreenFoot was created to satisfy the high demand of green employers looking for quality professionals who are either green experienced or committed to seeking a green career" says Bodlovic. "By building a better marketplace for Green Careers and exposing the resumes of career seekers at the various conferences and expos that green organizations are attending, GreenFootJobs.com will become the ultimate source for all green-career related activity. We will in effect 'walk the show floor' for the job seekers", added Bodlovic.
Forests Targeted for Biofuels and Help Mitigate Climate Change
Source: NYTimes.com
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined a vision for managing the nation's forests that placed a high priority on restoration to protect water resources and combat climate change.
Vilsack stressed the importance of forests and rural lands in supplying much of America's clean drinking water, sheltering wildlife and helping to mitigate the effects of climate change.
He said his vision for the agency begins with restoration, such as improving or decommissioning unnecessary roads and rehabilitating wetlands and streams.
The administration's plan calls for the Forest Service to help develop ''green jobs'' that help restore forests while using them as ''carbon sinks'' to help offset global warming, Vilsack said. He noted emerging opportunities in woody biomass and carbon markets that could provide private landowners economic incentives to maintain forests.
Vilsack also announced that the Forest Service would not appeal a June federal court ruling that struck down President Bush's 2008 forest planning rule. Environmentalists had fought the rule, saying it rolled back key forest protections.
Vilsack said the agency will develop a new forest planning rule to protect water, climate and wildlife.
The Obama administration joined environmentalists to defend the so-called Roadless Rule, which was imposed by President Bill Clinton.
''The secretary's support for a national roadless policy, along with the administration's move to join conservationists in defending the roadless rule in court, marks an important step toward resolving the conflicts and patchwork approach that have hindered forest management for decades,'' said Jane Danowitz, director of the Pew Environment Group's U.S. public lands program.
The Forest Service manages national forests and grasslands encompassing about 193 million acres -- an area equivalent to the size of Texas. Still, more than 80 percent of forests in the United States are outside the National Forest System.
Some conservation work has already begun, Vilsack said. The Forest Service has allocated about $1.5 billion through the economic stimulus law for conservation and forest health. More than 500 projects are aimed at creating jobs and promoting forest rehabilitation through projects such as removal of small trees and underbrush that serve as fuel for wildfires.
At least 30 projects will promote development of biofuels from trees, Vilsack said.
Aspen Chooses Hydropower to Decrease Carbon Footprint
Source: The Aspen Times
Preliminary work to build a voter-approved hydropower plant under the Castle Creek Bridge is under way, and it should be up and running by next year, according to city officials.
John Hines, the city's renewable energy utility manager, said the 1,880-square-foot facility will go through public review for final approval starting next month. If it's approved by the Aspen City Council, construction could begin as early as the spring.
“It will probably be Christmas time before we know if it's a go,” he said. “We are hoping to have it commissioned next fall.”
That will have been three years after the majority of Aspen residents voted for the facility and issued $5.5 million in bonds to pay for it.
There has been minimal opposition to the facility, but some people are concerned about a decreased flow in the nearby stream because water will be drained out of it to generate power.
Hines said the city will host a neighborhood meeting after Labor Day in which a hydrologist and an engineer will address water-flow concerns.
He added that neighbors are generally in favor of the facility but are watching the design of it closely.
“They are in favor of the hydro facility, but they want it done right; I don't blame them,” Hines said.
A new water line is being built to replace the old one, as well as to accommodate the new plant, which will generate renewable energy for the city and increase its supplies by 8 percent over its current level of about 75 percent.
The project would utilize existing water rights, head gates, and water storage of the original Castle Creek hydroelectric plant, which met all of Aspen's electric power needs from 1892 through 1958, when the plant was decommissioned.
When completed, the 1.05 mega-watt facility is expected to increase electric production by 5.5 million kilowatt hours annually.
City officials say that switching from primarily coal-fired energy purchases to hydroelectric power production would eliminate an estimated 5,167 tons of CO2 emissions — representing a 0.6 percent community-wide reduction in carbon emissions based on the 2004 greenhouse gas emission inventory.
The facility's turbine and generator will be designed to convert the force of falling water into electric power. The water comes from the Thomas Reservoir, which is located at the top of Doolittle Drive and is the home of the water treatment facility.
The water will travel down a 42-inch pipe, supplying the hydro plant with approximately 52 cubic feet per second. There are nearly 4.9 million gallons of water sitting above some residential areas and the hospital. The pipe would allow the city to quickly evacuate the water should the walls of the reservoir ever be breached.
The electricity will be placed on the city's grid and taken up to the water treatment campus to power those facilities, and to potentially produce hydrogen for hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen vehicles.
The City Council reviewed the feasibility study for the Castle Creek hydroelectric plan in April 2007 and approved a contract with Smart Mahoney Associates for project planning.
The system and building design for the proposed Castle Creek Energy Center was complete last fall. The bid for the turbine design and generator was awarded to Canyon Industries, Inc. of Deming, Wash., and is being built with a delivery date of spring 2010.
The city is in the process of designing the facility and the permit process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Front Range Housing Development Offers Sustainable Homes
Source: Northern Colorado Business Report
G.J. Gardner and Vibrant Solar Inc. have agreed to a partnership aimed at offering homes that integrate several renewable energy technologies.
G.J. Gardner will offer Vibrant's Zero Carbon System in new homes throughout the Front Range, including the Northern Colorado developments of Water Valley, High Plains Village and Harmony Meadows.
"A recently enacted state law mandates that, going forward, new homes must include pre-wiring for solar. Because of our unique system, Vibrant goes above and beyond the law's requirements. Basically, we are providing a paradigm shift," said Vibrant Vice President Mark Simmons.
The Zero Carbon System combines solar photovoltaic panels, a geothermal system and a solar thermal system along with energy controllers to reduce electric consumption. Home owners are eligible for various tax credits. The system will pay for itself in seven to eight years in some cases, according to a press release from the home builder.
DOE Announces $57 Million To Fund Smart Grid Development
Source: RenewableEnergyWorld.com
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced delivery of more than $47 million in funding under the ARRA for eight projects to further smart grid demonstration projects in seven states. Secretary Chu also announced $10.5 million in Recovery Act funding available for local governments to develop emergency preparedness plans for their electrical systems.
The $47 million in Recovery Act awards will support existing projects that are advancing demonstration-scale smart grid technologies. This investment will add to the $17 million in funds the Department had awarded these projects in 2008 following a competitive award process. Click here to see a list of the projects.
The $10.5 million to increase the nation’s energy security is available for local governments to apply for competitive energy assurance grants ranging between $60,000 and $300,000.
As part of its efforts to inform Congress, energy stakeholders, and the public about smart grid efforts, the Department of Energy has also released its first Smart Grid System Report, which examines the status of smart grid deployments nationwide and any regulatory or government barriers to continued deployment.
The report finds that while many smart grid capabilities are just beginning to emerge, the adoption of various technologies – such as smart metering, automated substation controls and distributed generation – is growing significantly.
To download the full Smart Grid System Report, click here.
Upcoming Events
Colorado Renewable Energy Conference: Clean Energy: Pathways to a Low-Carbon Footprint
August 28-30
Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
With Sessions On:
Policy, Transportation, PV, Wind, Storage, Bio-fuels, Population, Homes, RE/EE Analysis & Tools
Click Here to Register On-Line via PayPal
Colorado Straw Bale Association's 8th Annual Natural Building Conference
September 12 - 13
Durango, CO
www.strawbaleconference.com
Green Residential Construction and Remodeling
September 16 – December 9th
Green practices in residential building are the focus of the Green Homes Certificate Program offered by CSU. The accelerated evening program provides a comprehensive overview of green residential building, new construction, and remodeling.
CSU’s Institute for the Built Environment created the certificate program in direct response to the growing need for specially trained professionals who can adapt to the changing industry. Offered from 5:30-9 p.m. on 12 consecutive Wednesdays from Sept. 16- Dec. 9, the Green Homes Certificate is specifically designed for those who work in the:
- construction and design industries such as landscape, interior and architectural contractors and builders
- planners and commissioners
- facility managers and stakeholders
- built environment engineers and decision-makers
The Green Home Certificate Program coursework focuses the green building topics of:
- site and home design
- energy-efficient envelope
- high performance HVAC systems for new, remodeled and existing homes
- indoor environmental quality
- active renewable energy systems
- home performance testing demonstrations
- sustainable, healthy building and finish materials
- natural home building techniques
- construction waste recycling, deconstruction and remodeling
- economics of green homes
- green rating systems including LEED Homes, Built Green and ENERGY STAR
Registration is underway but space is limited. Registration must be received by Sept. 2. For more information call (970) 491-3260, or register online at www.ibe.colostate.edu. Classes will be held at CSU’s Loveland Learning Center at 2915 Rocky Mountain Ave., Suite 240.
New Grid tied PV Workshop
September 14-18
Fort Collins, CO
Solar Energy International (SEI) in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Fair
September 14-16
Carbondale CO
www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/solar-energy-international-1158/news/article/2009/08/sei-announces-solar-pv-workshop
10th Annual Sustainable Living Fair (SEI)
September 19 - 20 Fort Collins, CO
A hands-on, family oriented event designed to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about modern living practices, renewable energy solutions, environmental & social responsibility in their daily lives, green building, local economies and much more.
www.SustainableLivingFair.org
The 2009 International Peak Oil Conference
October 10 - 13
Denver, CO
"System Reset: Global Energy and the New Economy"
www.aspo-usa.com
Colorado's Annual New Energy Economy Conference: Powering the Future
October 20, 2009
The Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel
1550 Court Place, Denver, Colorado 80202
A one-day conference sponsored by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission; the Governor's Energy Office, the Office of Consumer Counsel and Energy Outreach Colorado. Registration for attendees and exhibitors will be available in August 2009.
Colorado's New Energy Economy: Powering the Future
For information on the following workshops, go to the Solar Energy International website www.solarenergy.org.
Denver Tour of Solar Homes
10/03/2009
Denver, Colorado
Alternative Energy Expo
10/23 - 10/24/2009
Delta, Colorado
Colorado ENERGY STAR Summit
12/09/2009
Denver, Colorado
CSU Energy Website
To learn more about wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels, visit our energy website at: www.ext.colostate.edu/energy.
Furthermore
Go to hes.lbl.gov/hes/db/zip.shtml and you can do an online calculation of your own energy use and carbon footprint. It’s easy to use. Tell your communities about it.
Send me anything that’s newsworthy that you’re doing in the world of clean energy and renewables. We need to keep our colleagues up to date on what’s going on in Extension and the value of our role!
Leigh Fortson
Extension Regional Communications Coordinator and REA (Renewable Energy Advocate)
Colorado State University Extension
2764 Compasss Drive, Suite 232
Grand Junction, CO 81506-8746
(970) 241-3346, FAX (970) 241-3643
leigh.Fortson@ColoState.EDU
