November 2024

A ReEnergize project beefs up insulation – and keeps the bugs at bay

What could you do with an extra $2,000 to make your home more energy efficient, more comfortable, and maybe even safer?

Stevie Morrison and Garrett Hutson will soon get a $2,000 check from ReEnergize Garfield Energy, the GCE program that offers financial aid to income-qualified residents to undertake energy- and money-saving measures. The funding enabled them to tackle an urgent project in their home, and it gave them the flexibility to do it their own way. Read more... 

Rifle seeks public input on Energy and Resilience Action Plan 

The City of Rifle is developing its first-ever Energy and Resilience Action Plan, and it’s inviting residents to give their input. The planning process is being led by CLEER, the nonprofit that manages Garfield Clean Energy's programs. 

The purpose of the plan is to identify ways that the City and its partners can support energy efficiency, renewable energy, energy cost savings and emissions reductions while adapting to the impacts of a warming climate and creating a more diverse and vibrant economy. Rifle residents can learn more and give their input via an online survey on this page.

IRA funding starts flowing in Colorado, with new rebates for low-income households

Two years after the passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act, some of its $8.8 billion earmarked for households is finally starting to flow. The Department of Energy announced on Oct. 30 that it's rolling out the IRA’s Home Energy Rebate programs in Colorado in two phases.

Effective immediately, low-income Coloradans – those earning 80% or less of their county’s area median income – are eligible for the new Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program. These households already qualify for certain free efficiency measures through the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, but HEAR adds heat pumps and electrical panel upgrades to the list.

Sometime next year, HEAR will expand to serve middle-income residents (those earning below 150% of area median income) with substantial new rebates for heat pumps, energy-saving appliances and weatherization. Read more...

Powering hospitality

CLEER Buildings Specialist Heidi McCullough and Built Environment Team Lead Zuleika Pevec teamed up with Melissa Kline of IMPACTenergy (right) to present "Powering Hospitality" at the Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge on Oct. 24.  Tailored for hotel/motel owners and operators, the session was a deep dive into new state energy-efficiency requirements for large buildings, and how they can be seen as an opportunity to achieve rapid return on investment, thanks to utility rebates and energy savings. (You can watch it here.)

Contact Heidi for FREE technical consultation on your commercial project.

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