4CORE &
Partner Events
Lunch and Lights- for laypeople
June 7, 11 AM - 1 PM
LPEA Multipurpose Room
Business owners as well as residential customers interested in learning about lighting efficiency are invited to attend.
Durango Clean Commute Week
June 16 - 22
Clean Commute Week is an effort by the City of Durango to encourage a shift in the way our citizens think about transportation.
Every Saturday from 8 AM - 12 PM
First National Bank Parking Lot
Home Buyers Class
Regional Housing Alliance (RHA)
Thursday, June 7
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Saturday, June 9th
8:30 am -1:00 PM
4CORE will present info on the 9th on how to make improvements and save money on bills.
Call for location and to sign up: 970.259.1418
Saving $$ with Energy Efficiency Tuesday, June 26, 7 PM Lavenia McCoy Library, Bayfield Habitat for Humanity presents an evening workshop will provide an overview of energy saving ideas that will save you money and help reduce your utility bills. 4CORE will present tips and answer questions.
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Transportation Resources for Southwest Colorado
The Southwest Regional Transportation Planning Commission (RPC) has created regional transit and transportation planning documents. The RPC works with various transportation planning, project and funding issues affecting the region.
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Sponsor Opportunities
Sponsorship provides a direct channel of communication for companies and organizations to connect with the community. Your support creates heightened awareness of energy efficiency in our community and helps educate local residents and builders about the benefits for saving energy and energy costs.
Sustainable Building Education Program
Email or call Cori at 970-259-1916 ext 111 to contribute in any of the following ways:
- space for classes
- sponsors for lunch/snacks
- program sponsors
- trainers and speakers
Home Performance Prescription (HomeRx) Seeking sponsors to launch our HomeRx program through a HomeRx Makeover Contest. Email or call Gregg at 970-259-1916 ext. 114 to contribute in any of the following ways: - supplies for home upgrades (insulation, caulk, etc)
- cash at the $500, $1,000 or $2,500 level
More information here
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Call for Nominiations
National Philanthropy Day is the special day set aside to recognize and pay tribute to the great contributions that philanthropy -- and those people active in the philanthropic community -- have made to our lives, our communities and our world. Celebrations are held annually in many states across the nation.
Nominations for the 2012 honorees is open!
More information here
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 Energy to Evolve
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Join Our Mailing List!
Energy News you Can Use is published monthly
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Thank you
to our Partners! 
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Resource News You Can Use
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What is your favorite way to get from point A to point B? This month our Resource News You Can Use newsletter focuses on transportation.
How many miles do you drive per day? Per week? Per year? In our region, we cumulatively drive almost 2 billion miles on our highways each year!
Learn more about your transportation options, from electric vehicles to pedal-powered information, and what is happening in our region to improve transportation. |
Did You Know?
 The Benefits of Biking
1. Bicycling is for everyone
2. Bicycling can help you live longer and better
- Adults who bike to work have better weight, blood pressure, and insulin levels. (Gordon-Larsen, P., et al., 2009)
- Women who bike 30 minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer. (Luoto, R., et al., 2000)
- Adolescents who bicycle are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults. (Menschik, D, et al., 2008)
3. Bicycling boosts the economy
4. Bicycling is less expensive than driving a car
5. Bicycling reduces road congestion and air pollution
6. Bicycling is safe, and together we can make it safer
- The health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by a factor of 20 to one. (Hillman, M., 1992)
- There is safety in numbers: the more cyclists there are, the safer bicycling is. (Jacobsen, P., 2003)
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Bike Friendly Communities
Durango Gets the Gold
 The City of Durango is proud to announce they have achieved Gold level status as a Bicycle Friendly Community as designated by the League of American Bicyclists. Way to go Durango!
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Transit Options in Southwest Colorado
By John Ehmann
The five counties in the southwest corner of Colorado cover over 5,000 square miles. It is estimated that at least 85-90% of all ground travel occurs in personal and business vehicles. Some trips are by bike and foot. Other trips though make use of various transit options.
For commuting to work, the percentage of workers in some of the major cities and towns in the region report the following:
- 6-13% carpool
- 3-8% walk to work
- 0-9% say that they use other means (probably mostly by bike)
- 4-14% work at home
- 0-2% currently use public transit
The public transit options available to you depend on your location and circumstances. The map above gives an overview of public transit providers in the region and their current service areas.
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HomeRx Makeover Contest
Enter to Win a Free Home Energy Makeover
 Conservation of water and energy go together. It takes energy to treat, pump, and heat water. 4CORE is hosting a HomeRx Makeover contest to launch the Home Performance Prescription Program (HomeRx), which will provide a suite of water and energy-saving services for residents in Southwest Colorado.
La Plata County homeowners enter to win:
- one (1) grand prize Home Energy Makeover, complete with comprehensive energy audit, consulting session, and home efficiency improvements, value starting at $1,500,
- one (1) second prize whole house comprehensive energy audit, valued at $600, and
- two (2) walk through assessments.
Winners are selected based on the home's potential energy savings. Applications to be submitted per entry and screened by a panel of judges.
Register to Win a Free Home Energy Makeover Here
Goals of the HomeRx Program:
- Educate and motivate our community toward energy efficient and healthy homes.
- Provide excellence in service and verification of quality work.
- Provide on-going jobs for the sustainable building industry workforce.
Sponsored by:
  
  
Annadel Building Solutions LLC
For more information or to sponsor this event, contact 4CORE.
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Lend Me an Upgrade
Local Loans Available for Energy Upgrades
There's a new, simple way for home and business owners in Southwest Colorado to make energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades to their homes and offices. Region 9 Economic Development District and First National Bank are partnering with the Colorado Housing Finance Authority (CHFA) to bring loan options for energy upgrades to our area. CHFA's Green Colorado Credit Reserve helps lending institutions offer loans for energy upgrades by incentivizing local lending institutions with a "reserve account" that offers them some protection in the event that a borrower defaults on a loan.
This is allowing businesses and homeowners to take out low-interest loans in order to reduce their energy bills allowing them to pay back the loan more quickly. This summer, make energy upgrades your home or business and take advantage of this new loan program! For more information, contact 4CORE, or the lending institutions below:
Business Energy Upgrade Loan
Ed Morlan
Region 9 Economic Development District
970-247-9621
email Ed
Home Energy Upgrade Loan
Kathy Burgess
First National Bank of Durango
970-247-3020
email Kathy
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West Building Celebration Video
ENERGY STAR Certification Video
In May, we celebrated 4CORE's home office building receiving an ENERGY STAR certification. The video below shows highlights from the event. Thanks to all who attended!
 | | West Building ENERGY STAR Certification Celebration.mp4 |
As a result of the HVAC and lighting renovations, the West Building has reduced its annual energy costs by 40 percent and provided a greatly improved environment for its tenants. The energy savings are equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 386 single-family homes and includes a greenhouse gas reduction of more than 813,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually. The building received its ENERGY STAR score in 2012 and is performing better than 84 percent of commercial office buildings nationwide. For more information, contact 4CORE. |
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SolarWorks is launching a Community Solar Incentive Program coupled with an additional exclusive Local First member deal for the months of May and June, 2012. Community Incentive Solar Program ($200 - $1,500 depending on number of 'neighbors' that join you) + Local First Member Deal (.05 cents per watt ($200 - $500) installed on top of all other incentives) = Over 50% off complete Solar PV Energy Systems.
For more information and to schedule a free non-obligation assessment, please call 970.382.2624, visit SolarWorks, or stop by the office at 270 E 8th Avenue in Building Specialties. Expires June 30, 2012
Solar rebates available through a unique partnership between Local First, SunPower, and local solar installer Living Solar (business and individual members of Local First are eligible). Local First business members are eligible for solar system rebates of $0.20 per watt, up to $10,000, on systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW). Meanwhile, individual members of Local First, as well as employees of member businesses, qualify for a $0.40/Watt rebate, up to $2,000. For more information, or to schedule a presentation for your company's employees, please contact Living Solar at 970-247-7871.
Call 4CORE at 970-259-1916 if you have any questions or need assistance.
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As always, if you have any feedback or questions about becoming more energy efficient, please contact us. |
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