:: JUNE 2009 ::

Annual ReWards Dinner Raises $80,000 for Conservation

CRC and BGBG Partnership Events for June

CRC awards Boulder Valley schools 2 ReNew Our Schools solar grants

Home Energy Solutions Training

Help the CRC booth at the Farmer's Market

Annual ReWards Dinner Raises $80,000 for Conservation

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the CRC at our 5th Annual ReWards Reception & Auction on Friday, June 5th at the gorgeous St. Julien Hotel & Spa. While briefly interrupted by a classic Colorado afternoon thunderstorm, everyone rallied to keep the silent auction and lively conversation flowing without missing a beat.

In short, the evening was a huge success - more than 265 friends attended, we raised approximately $80,000 for conservation efforts in the community, and had a great time while doing it.

A special congrats goes out to this year’s ReWard winners for their pioneering efforts in creating and promoting a culture of conservation. Learn more about why these organizations received this prestigious award here.

• Hogan & Hartson LLP, Energy Conservation
• Boulder Climate Change & Water Supply Team, Water Conservation
• Amgen Colorado, Waste Reduction
• Boulder County, Community Conservation
• Transition Boulder County, Our World Award

Thank you, also, to our generous sponsors!

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CRC and BGBG Partnership Events for June

For the general public – homeowners, contractors, students:

Green After Dark:  Natural Construction Materials and Craft

Monday, June 29, 2009
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: REI BOULDER, Community Room

Prior to petroleum, most building materials were sourced locally, and building was more labor intensive than energy intensive. Craftspeople flourished, and buildings were showcases for regional talent.

Given the current economic situation, renewed interest in local materials offers some parallel cultural, economic and ecological benefits to the local food movement. This discussion will explore the need for and performance of low embodied energy materials and systems such as straw bale, natural plasters, local woods, recycled and other hybrid-local products and services.

To see a galley of examples click here.

The event is FREE to CRC and BGBG members,  $20 for all others.  Click here to register.

For the advanced education – homeowners, contractors, students:

June’s BOSS: Building On-Site Seminar Series event  - A new construction home, The NZE House

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

The NZE House is a net-zero energy (NZE) house in Boulder that was built with 4 primary goals:

1. Build an NZE house that achieves that goal without burning any fossil fuels. 

2. Show that an NZE house could also be architecturally distinctive. 

3. Build a “not so big” house.

4. Make transportation to and from the house more sustainable.

Come learn how that was done at the June BOSS event.  Meet the owner, the contractors and hear an in-depth analysis by a panel of building science professionals.  Each seminar includes a tour of the facility by the builders and installers, a gourmet dinner, opportunities for you to ask questions, and networking.

Click here to register.

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CRC awards Boulder Valley schools 2 ReNew Our Schools solar grants

Two BVSD school buildings were recently awarded 10kW photovoltaic (PV) systems as part of the CRC’s pilot grant program called "ReNew Our Schools".   Of the 35 schools in BVSD that were eligible for this grant, 22 applied by the March 9 deadline. Six were selected as finalists who were all interviewed before the final grant awardees were chosen.

The selection committee chose Arapahoe Campus high school at 6800 East Arapahoe and the campus shared by BCSIS and High Peaks elementary schools at 3995 East Aurora. Each participating school is creating an action plan that includes a curriculum, presentation, and community-based project related to their new solar systems.

The ReNew Our Schools program has three primary objectives:

* provide local school facilities with solar PV equipment to lower the schools' operating costs and environmental impacts;
* establish interactive school and community-based conservation projects around energy efficiency and renewable energy; and
* create long-term learning opportunities for teachers and students.

The equipment and installation for these new solar systems will be provided free of charge by the CRC thanks to donation from a Boulder-based family foundation. The donation also includes a solar monitoring system that will provide the school with system performance, solar electricity production, and CO2 reduction. Current monitoring and solar educational material will inform the school community how solar electricity works and its benefits. The systems will be installed over the summer or in the early fall.

To learn more about ReNew Our Schools, email Debbie Fox.
Also, click here for an article about the program!

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Home Energy Solutions Training

Boulder County initiative teaches community how to save energy and money

Are you interested in becoming a leader on energy efficiency and renewable energy issues in Boulder County? The Home Energy Solutions training will teach you how to be a grassroots champion for climate change issues and green energy.

Boulder County community members are invited to participate in a series of workshops dedicated to energy activism. The workshops have been put together by the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign and are an effort to educate residents about the various tax incentives, rebates and renewable energy options that are available. We will also discuss how to get involved with your neighborhood’s Green Team and teach you some basic community organizing skills. The free of charge workshops will be open to the public.

Who: You, your friends and like minded people that want to get involved

What: Learn some basics on community organizing and how to give the Cool Cities’ Home Energy Solutions presentation

When: June 23 from 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Center for Resource Conservation- 2639 Spruce Street, Boulder CO, 80302

For more information or to RSVP email Jonah Fruchter or call him at: 303-861-8818 ext 3 or email JC Martel or call her at: 303-999-3820 ext 224.

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Help the CRC booth at the Farmer's Market

The CRC is seeking some outgoing volunteers to support our booths at the Farmers' Markets in Boulder and Longmont. Volunteers will work with a CRC staff member from 8:00am-2:00pm to educate our community about sustainability measures and programming provided by the CRC and its partners. Volunteers will receive a free lunch from a Farmers' Market vendor.

Dates available in Boulder: August 15, August 29, September 5, and September 19. 

Dates available in Longmont : July 11, August 22, September 19.

If you are interested please email Kate Eckhardt or call her at: 303-999-3820 x218.

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