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MEMBERS: GARFIELD COUNTY | TOWN OF PARACHUTE | CITY OF RIFLE | TOWN OF SILT | TOWN OF NEW CASTLE | CITY OF GLENWOOD SPRINGS | TOWN OF CARBONDALE | COLORADO MOUNTAIN COLLEGE | ROARING FORK TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY | HOLY CROSS ENERGY | GARFIELD COUNTY LIBRARIES
PROGRAMS & SERVICES: CLEER (CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY FOR THE REGION)
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Glenwood Springs family finds comfort, clean air with help of GCE
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With the birth of their first child on the horizon this spring, Doug Winter and Bailey Leppek decided their traditional method of summertime home cooling wasn’t going to cut it.
A swamp cooler would provide some relief overnight but be short-lived coming morning. By the evening, much of the home felt “sweltering,” Doug said. Combined with the real risk of wildfire smoke exposure on an infant’s respiratory system, they decided it was time for an improvement.
Now, in place of a swamp cooler and passive cooling, Doug Winter and Bailey Leppek’s home now has a mini-split system that provides both heating and cooling for a more comfortable and consistent home temperature, thanks to some help from GCE.
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Garfield Clean Energy column: Overcoming EV uncertainty to realize cost savings
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Electric vehicles (EVs) are increasingly common on Colorado roads, but for some prospective buyers, questions remain about what it’s really like to own an EV. The great news is the years following EVs’ initial rollout have provided a wealth of real-world information on the benefits EVs have over traditional gas-powered automobiles.
Battery health, range anxiety, temperature, and the price of an EV are a couple of considerations that may lie between you and a new ride that’s comfortable and cleaner. Overcoming EV uncertainty can be as simple as thinking through questions and doing some research. Local auto dealers are also another good information source and can help provide real-world insights into what to expect as an EV owner in Garfield County.
If the idea of buying an EV is daunting to you, reach out to CLEER to talk with a ReCharge coach who can help you understand how the tax credits and rebates affect you personally and help you feel comfortable and confident in finding an EV that’s right for you.
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Gain some home know-how with a DIY energy assessment
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Most rebate funds are fully allocated for the rest of the year, but it’s not too late to get in on energy savings and improve the comfort of your home.
Garfield Clean Energy is launching a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Home Energy Assessment with funding from the Town of Carbondale and Alpine Bank to support people interested in installing heat pumps and other electrification measures in their homes/townhomes/condos.
This online survey takes only about 15 minutes to complete and helps gather information about your home’s major equipment, like heating systems. After filling out the web form, an energy coach will review your answers and connect with you within a week to help you determine which projects make sense given your goals, recommend contractors, review bids, and help you maximize rebates.
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Energizing takeaways from the Drive Clean Colorado Summit & Expo
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Last week, the CLEER team attended the Drive Clean Summit + Expo in Denver, joining clean transportation leaders from across Colorado, and there was plenty to take back to Garfield County. Here are a few of the ideas and themes that stood out to our team:
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Don’t underestimate both Level 1 and Level 2 charging: Fast chargers get a lot of attention, but for many drivers and fleets, Level 1 and/or Level 2 charging can cover everyday driving needs reliably and affordably.
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Diversify your fleet: There is no one tool for every job, and that’s why it’s important to have more than just fuel-powered vehicles in your fleet. Electrification has come to a lot of different equipment types in the past decade and can add flexibility and cost savings to businesses throughout Colorado.
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Colorado’s charging network will continue to grow quickly: Thanks to a strong project pipeline across the state, hundreds of new charging ports can be expected to come online over the next few years.
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Clean transportation doesn’t just mean an electric car: Not everyone can or needs to drive, so we have to continue defining transportation broadly. Public transit, e-bikes, mobility hubs, and autonomous vehicles are all options today, and each plays a unique role in getting people around.
And the glue bringing this all together? Collaboration and partnership between businesses, residents, governments, and utilities. These connections ensure grid compatibility, foster equitable access to charging infrastructure, and accelerate the widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles.
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Two reasons to celebrate October: Energy Awareness Month and Cooperative Awareness Month
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October is coming to an end, but there’s still time to recognize it as Cooperative Awareness Month and Energy Awareness Month.
Holy Cross Energy is hosting Coffee with Your Co-op from 8-10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29 at Wild Coffee in Silt. You can stop by and talk with Holy Cross employees about energy-saving programs, projects Holy Cross is working on and more. There’s no cost, and you can get a free cup of coffee courtesy of Holy Cross. Click here to find out more.
October is also Energy Awareness Month, and Xcel Energy encourages residential and business customers alike to consider steps they can take to help reduce excess energy usage.
One simple possibility is to consider your business or home lighting. Are you still using halogen bulbs? LED bulbs are more efficient and lead to decent savings over time. They also last considerably longer than traditional bulbs.
For businesses, Xcel can offer lighting and equipment rebates to help cover the cost of replacement. Click here to find out more.
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