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August 2016
YVSC has been Trash Talking a lot lately! No - I don't mean making disparaging remarks. Through our work with Litter Solutions, Zero Waste events, and now, food waste, we think and talk a lot about reducing waste and keeping our Valley clean. Trash along our streets, trails and rivers don't make a good impression with our many visitors. How do we all do our part and encourage tourists to care for our Valley? And how can we do better to reduce the amount of waste in the first place?
Please read below to learn more about what YVSC has been doing and what YOU can do to help keep our Valley beautiful.
Happy August,
Sarah B. Jones
Executive Director
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Be a Zero Hero and get a FREE Old Town Hot Springs pool pass!
Volunteer to make community events waste-free
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Pitkin County Landfill: Styrofoam
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This Zero Waste season has been a huge success! So far we have diverted, 3,234 gallons of compost and 4,397 gallons of recycling from the landfill. Let's keep it up!
YVSC's Zero Hero volunteers are key to making more than 40 large community events waste-free, such as Free Summer Concerts and the Farmers' Market. Volunteers set up, staff and break down the Zero Waste stations, with each volunteer typically donating about three hours of time.
Even though you're volunteering, you still enjoy the events, socializing and get great perks--like pool passes!
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Thanks to the Routt County Democrats for helping make a Free Concert Zero Waste
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We welcome volunteers of all ages. Middle schoolers can get a jum
p on their
community service hours. Zero Waste events are also a great team building activity. We love having community group members or business employees volunteer together! Wear your team's shirts to the event and show the community that your businesses cares about our environment.
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Tour de Steamboat: Record number of riders!
Thank you
to everyone who came out and rode the 2016 Tour de Steamboat and a big thank you to all our wonderful sponsors and volunteers that make this ride benefitting YVSC and other local non-profits possible.
The day could not have been more perfect, and nearly 900 riders enjoyed the four different routes, phenomenal aid stations and the rockin' post-ride BBQ!
Thanks to all of you who supported YVSC by purchasing giveaway tickets.
Congratulations to our 2016 giveaway winners!
Kent Eriksen Custom Bike with Shimano components:
Wolf Bennett
Brew Cruiser Bike:
Jacob Schwinn
DT Swiss Wheelset:
Toby Clary
Steamboat Adventure Package:
Angela Ashby
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Feed people not landfills: Reducing food waste
Since YVSC began our Zero Waste events in 2009, we have been diverting significant volumes of food waste from the landfill. However, most of our work has focused on composting post-consumer food scraps. To reduce food waste and feed hungry people in our community, YVSC, in collaboration with CMC's student-led Food Recovery Network, recently launched a project to rescue surplus food from local restaurants for distribution to disadvantaged families and individuals through local nonprofits.
We've set a goal of getting three restaurants on board to donate food in 2016, and are proud to announce that Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation's restaurant The Cabin will soon be donating good-quality wholesome food to Horizons' clients.
>If your restaurant is interested in donating surplus food or your non-profit has clients who could benefit from food donations, please contact Sarah Jones at
sarah@yvsc.org.
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September Talking Green: The Energy (R)evolution has Begun
September 27
*Please note, no August Talking Green
5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Butcherknife Brewing Company
The global energy system is undergoing dramatic and exciting changes. Renewables are growing at a phenomenal rate, energy efficient technologies are popping up worldwide, and innovative energy technologies all point to a sustainable energy future.
Why is this happening now and why did it take so long? Are these changes happening quickly enough to stabilize the climate? Are we on the right path, and what might cause us to fall off of it?
Paul Komor will present on how and why the energy system is changing and the latest data on energy trends and technologies. He'll also lead a discussion of future energy trends, risks and opportunities.
Paul Komor founded CU's energy certificate programs and was CU's Energy Education Director from 2009 to 2014. He taught energy courses at CU from 1997-2014, and is currently a faculty affiliate of CU's Environmental Studies (ENVS) department. In 2007, Paul was named a contributor to the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
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Energy audits available for half-price for Atmos customers
Cen$ible Energy funding for 2016 cycle closed July 31
The Cen$ible Energy rebate program for Yampa Valley Electric Association (YVEA) members has been a huge success this year with total funding of $36,500 from numerous local partners, more than 300 rebates issued, and more than $65,000 spent locally with energy efficiency vendors in the Yampa Valley.
Due to the program's success, rebate funds have run out.
However, Atmos customers can still receive half-price energy audits (approximately $150).
Free residential energy audits through the Cen$ible Energy program will be available again after January 1, 2017. The full rebate program will also re-open again on January 1, 2017.
Cen$ible Energy helps families and small businesses in Routt and Moffat counties save energy and money. Founding funding partners include Yampa Valley Electric Association, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, the City of Steamboat and Alpine Bank. The program also received donations from Routt County and the Town of Oak Creek. More sponsors and funding partners are needed to support this popular annual rebate program.
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Free School Supplies!
Bring your list and gather your child's back-to-school supplies at NO COST
School Supply Giveaway and Create Space Open House
10:00 a.m. - noon
The Depot
1001 13th Street
At the end of each school year, YVSC organizes the Clean Out the Classroom campaign to collect and redistribute reusable school supplies. Stop by the Steamboat Springs Arts Council at The Depot for a FREE giveaway of these gently used and new school supplies such as crayons, markers, colored pencils and more, while supplies last. You can also visit the Create Space resource room upstairs at The Depot to check out all the donated art supplies available for free or drop off extra art and creative project supplies of your own. Arts Council representatives will be on hand to talk about children's arts programs including Young at Art Creativity Camps. This event is co-sponsored by YVSC.
>Please spread the word about the school supply giveaway to any families who could benefit. All are welcome to take advantage of this opportunity.
>For questions, contact Madeleine at the Arts Council at 879-9008 or
suzie@yvsc.org.
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Fifth local electric vehicle charging station now online at ski area
As of July 21, the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation is now offering electric vehicle charging at the base of the ski area in the Gondola Square parking structure. A ChargePoint level II dual port charging station was installed in the block of short term parking spots near the entrance to the parking garage. Charging a vehicle at this station is offered free of charge during the summer months. In the winter season, short-term parking and charging will be free of charge while the vehicle is actively charging. A ChargePoint account is required for use of the station, and guests can easily register right at the Gondola square parking structure location. This project is part of the Charge Ahead Colorado initiative to offer electric vehicle charging throughout the state of Colorado.
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