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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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Garfield Clean Energy column: Cool summers and cozy winters mean thinking energy efficiency year-round
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This summer brought record-high temperatures, worsening drought, and periods of prolonged wildfire smoke, making it hard to rely on the “Colorado AC” of opening windows at night to stay cool.
Now that we’re heading into fall, it’s nice to put triple-digit temperatures behind us for the year. However, the challenge of maintaining a comfortable home isn’t limited to summer months. Cooler temps bring a respite from the heat, but they also highlight where homes are drafty and inefficient. This can lead to chilly mornings and higher utility bills.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to make your home more comfortable year-round. A good place to start is reaching out to CLEER for free energy coaching and to schedule a home energy assessment.
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Low-cost e-bike program returns to Garfield County
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This fall, Garfield County residents meeting certain eligibility requirements can apply to receive an e-bike for just $150.
eBikeThere Garfield County returns this year with the goal of distributing 40 e-bikes — valued at $2,500 each — and support equipment to help locals trade vehicle trips for e-bike trips, increase transportation options, and reduce carbon emissions.
You qualify to apply for eBikeThere if you are 18 years of age or older, a Garfield County resident, do not already own an e-bike and have an annual household income below 150% of the county’s area median income (AMI).
The eBikeThere application period is expected to remain open until Friday, October 16 at 5 p.m. MST. We encourage you to apply soon, as the application window may close early based on the number of applications received.
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Learn about EV technology and policy in October
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Want to learn about the people and organizations leading Colorado’s clean transportation progress? Curious about how electric vehicle technology has evolved and what the future of EVs might look like? Reserve Oct. 22 on your calendar for the Drive Clean Summit + Expo in Denver this year.
“We’d love to welcome you to the Drive Clean Summit + Expo,” said Bonnie Trowbridge, executive director of Drive Clean Colorado. “It’s a chance to see vehicles and technology up close, meet people moving clean transportation forward in urban, rural and mountain communities across Colorado, and bring home practical ideas for your own community. We’re gathering people from every corner of the state for one valuable day and we think you’ll find it well worth the trip.”
Over 25 vehicles and pieces of equipment will be on display, and 40 booths are slated for the event’s Innovation Showcase, including one of two EV terminal tractors Mile Hi Foods acquired with the help of CCDP. Ticket prices increase as the date gets closer, so be sure to register sooner rather than later.
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Drive Clean Summit + Expo
Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22
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Home energy technology explainer: Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) benefits
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Energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) are an increasingly common energy technology that can help your home find the “Goldilocks” setting of air circulation, energy efficiency and comfort.
Too much fresh air entering a home makes your heating and air conditioning systems use more energy, but too little fresh air can cause issues, too. Humans exhale carbon dioxide, and if too much accumulates in a room or home, people can feel groggy, get headaches, and sleep poorly.
Then there is radon. Colorado has high levels of naturally occurring radon gas that seeps out of soil and into the air in homes if a radon mitigation system is not present, which can accumulate to levels associated with a higher risk for lung cancer.
Many homes that are tightly sealed or are new construction have overcome these risks by having ERVs that continuously exhaust a small amount of fresh air while also bringing in fresh air. They do so in an energy efficient way that exchanges heat between the exhaust and fresh air.
Home energy assessments, offered by CLEER, measure how tight a home is, test for backdrafting of natural gas appliances, and recommend where more insulation would be beneficial and what other upgrades may be worthwhile for heating, air conditioning, and water heating equipment. CLEER can help find contractors and rebates for these upgrades.
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Funding available to replace diesel equipment with hybrid or fully-electric equivalents
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Does $6-per-gallon diesel have you feeling the combustion engine blues?
If you’re a fleet manager for a governmental organization or business in Colorado, you could get up to 45% of your project costs back when replacing diesel equipment with a fully-electric counterpart, saving money while also reducing emissions.
The Colorado Clean Diesel Program accepts grant applications on a rolling basis for replacing certain types of diesel-powered vehicles and equipment with newer, cleaner technologies.
Equipment such as electric terminal tractors, construction equipment, transportation refrigeration units, airport ground support equipment, lawn mowers, farm tractors, bucket trucks, snow groomers, and idle-reduction technologies are eligible for grants up to 25% to 45% of project costs.
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