| Mission Operational Guidelines Programs & Activities |
Vision History Annual Operating Budget 990 Report |
Core Values Statement of Need Staff |
To empower our community to conserve natural resources.
Vision statement
A thriving community that understands the finite nature of natural resources and acts to conserve them.
Core Values
- Collaboration
- Global impact via local action
- Individual engagement is the cornerstone of conservation
- Stewardship of the organization’s resources
- Practice what we preach
- We engage individuals by responding to their own unique needs and goals.
- We offer information and programs across the full spectrum of natural resource conservation opportunities.
- We provide a continuum of opportunities and encourage individuals to grow from entry level actions to become conservation leaders within our community.
- We work across the Front Range in order to provide local models for replication throughout Colorado and beyond through innovation and success.
- We measure our success both in terms of individuals engaged and natural resources conserved (outputs and outcomes).
- We annually review our strategic plan and community needs to ensure a sustainable and relevant future for our organization.
The Center for ReSource Conservation, formerly the Boulder Energy Conservation Center (BECC), was founded in 1976 by a group of community-minded citizens seeking ways to help reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources. The organization has since developed extensive expertise in the areas of green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction and deconstruction, and water conservation and sustainable living. We share practical solutions for environmental living through audits, at our ReSource retail operation, through print and on-line communications materials, direct services, events, workshops, demonstration projects, tours, and walk-in/email/phone requests for information. Our goal is to tackle resource conservation issues close to home, provide accessible and affordable conservation solutions, and reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with non-sustainable practices. The Center for ReSource Conservation’s objective is to provide programs and services that empower individuals to turn natural resource conservation beliefs into action in their daily lives.
The residents of Colorado are committed to leaving the legacy of a healthy, sustainable community, society, and planet to future generations. The CRC addresses this need by providing individuals with the solutions, the products, and the services that make sustainable choices not just manageable, but comfortable, practical, profitable and with the education to allow the impact to continue.
Each year, the CRC empowers more than 30,000 individuals to live a more sustainable life. The CRC reaches out to and engages these individuals through programming in its energy, water, and waste divisions:
The energy program ReNew Our Schools promotes energy education and conservation in local schools, granting solar electric systems or $25,000 in energy retrofits to winning schools each year.
CRC’s Water Programs help residents and businesses reduce water consumption by encouraging the efficient use of water. The Slow the Flow Colorado Program offers free sprinkler inspections and indoor water evaluations to customers of partner water providers. The Garden-In-A-Box Program sells professionally-designed, pre-planned xeric gardens to make xeriscaping easy. Free Water-Wise Landscape Seminars in April cover xeriscaping and sustainable landscaping topics. Each year, the xeric garden program helps to convert 40,000 square feet of high-water-use landscape to xeriscape.
CRC manages two salvage yards (in Boulder and Fort Collins) that accept donations and sell reclaimed building materials to the public. Promoting waste reduction through innovative landfill diversion programs, ReSource sells these reclaimed materials at 50%–90% below retail cost. Both ReSource Yards serve as drop-off locations for homeowners and contractors. Located in Boulder, the ReSource Tool Library is open daily and lets members borrow from a diverse tool inventory at affordable rates. The ReSource Tool Library also offers Tool School classes. Professionals at ReSource Deconstruction Services facilitate the sustainable practice of carefully dismantling a structure, while preserving the structure’s embodied energy and yielding materials for reuse. WoodWorks sells affordable, high quality wood products produced from salvaged materials.
Click here for a copy of our 990 Report.
The CRC staff consists of 14 full-time, six part-time employees at the CRC Spruce St. office, and ReSource yards in Boulder and Fort Collins, and 25 seasonal employees. In addition, the CRC engages the services of hundreds of volunteers and interns. The CRC’s senior staff consists of:
| Michelle Barnes, Interim Executive Director | Brad Queen, Energy Division Director |
| Daniel Stellar, Water Division Director | Shaun LaBarre, ReSource Director |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Center for ReSource Conservation?
The CRC is a 501c3 non-profit located in downtown Boulder, CO. The CRC is staffed by committed environmental professionals whose expertise ranges from representing Boulder in the Colorado Legislature to the foremost expertise in backyard composting.
ReSource is a used building materials sales yard that is operated by the Center for ReSource Conservation.
How are ReSource and CRC related?
ReSource was founded by the Center for ReSource Conservation in 1996 and is our main waste-reduction program. Think of ReSource as a division of the CRC. The ReSource sales yard is in east Boulder and the CRC main office is in downtown Boulder. Visit ReSource on the web by going towww.resourceyard.org.
Where does the CRC get its funding?
We are a 501c3 non-profit organization and, like any healthy non-profit, we rely on a variety of sources for funding.
Individual Donors:
We have a base of individual donors, or people who donate money to us because they believe in what we do. For info about becoming an individual donor click here.
Program Grants:
The CRC receives funding through the grant writing process. This is the least reliable but most exciting aspect of the work we do. The CRC writes grants throughout our program areas to explore new solutions to resource consumption issues. Funding organizations include: Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, independent foundations, and state and municipal organizations.
Business and Organization Sponsors:
We are supported by a number of local and national businesses. Some support us with general donations or donations to a specific CRC division throughout the year, and some choose to support one of our annual events. To find out how to become a Sponsor click here.
Contract Work:
The CRC also works on a contact basis to achieve our mission driven work. Currently the CRC works on a contract basis with
the Governor’s Energy Office, Boulder County, the City of Boulder and many other local municipalities.
Yes. We are always interested in working with individuals who want to help make a difference. Opportunities range from spending a few hours each week in the office or the sales yard to serving on an event planning committee. Check out our volunteer section for more information: click here.
Are you a City of Boulder department?
Not anymore. We work closely with the City of Boulder but are an independent organization.
How can I make a donation to the CRC?
View the How to Support Us web page for more info.
View the Contact Us web page for more info.
View the Contact Us web page for more info.
How many people work for the CRC?
In all, the Center for ReSource Conservation and its divisions have about 35 employees. In the summer during the height of operations, our ranks will swell to over 65 people.
