Garfield Clean Energy Advisory Board Meeting

The GCE Advisory Board will be meeting in Rifle, Dec. 14, 2011.

USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) Presentations Set for Jan. 27 and Feb. 7 in Montrose, Hotchkiss

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to complete a variety of projects. Offering both loan guarantees and grants, the REAP program helps eligible applicants install renewable energy systems such as solar panels or anaerobic digesters, make energy efficiency improvements such as installing irrigation pumps or replacing ventilation systems, and conduct energy audits and feasibility studies.

The Jan. 27 presentation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Delta-Montrose Electric Association, 11925 6300 Road, Montrose. The Feb. 7 presentation will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hotchkiss Senior Center, 276 E. Main St., Hotchkiss. For more information, see http://www.dmea.com/images/stories/PDF/USDA-REAP-SeminarFlyer.pdf.

CLEER to host a Fleets Workshop in February

More details to come.

“Business Model Case Studies for Contractors” to be Jan. 27 in Grand Junction

Attendees will learn business best practices (local and specific to their businesses) for creating more sales and happy customers; about opportunities to create more revenue and profit by offering additional energy efficiency solutions; and attendees will get an understanding of utility demand side management to help them plan their business for the next two years of Xcel Energy's energy efficiency programs.

The event will include a keynote presentation by Jeff Rice, Energy Efficiency Manager for the City of Aspen.

To register or to see the agenda, please visit http://www.eebco.org/whatisdsm

Efficiency Programs for 2012 in the Region Feb. 1 in Carbondale

Join representatives from all the local utilities and local programs to learn about opportunities and incentives to help build your business and provide efficiency options for your customers. Hosted in partnership with Xcel Energy, SourceGas, Holy Cross Energy, Aspen Electric, Franklin Energy and Glenwood Springs Electric, this event should be of interest to electricians, contractors, insulation contractors, HVAC companies, lighting specialists, and other efficiency contractors, building analysts, and anyone interested in learning more about local utility and community programs to promote efficiency. Free coffee and snacks will be provided. Please register in advance at http://www.garfieldcleanenergy.org/register.php

Xcel's Home Energy Audit and Home Performance Training Feb. 16 in Glenwood

“Xcel's Home Energy Audit and Home Performance Training” will be Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 [full day] in Glenwood Springs. Additional details regarding time and location are being developed.

Prerequisites for attending the training: Please carefully follow all of the steps below.

• Watch the online presentation at http://www.brainshark.com/xcel/2012HEA-HP

• Each person in your company who wants to attend training needs to view the presentation and RSVP him/herself.

• Each person needs to be RESNET, BPI and/or NATE certified in order to attend.

• Evaluate whether the new audit and/or HPwES program(s) fit your business model.

• Register for class (RSVP) through the online presentation.

• Register for your Xcel Energy contractor ID if you don't already have it.

1. Go to http://hvacreducation.net/xcel-co/registration/
2. Select the second option, "New Trade Partner."
3. Fill out each screen, clicking on "NEXT" at the bottom of each, until it says "Congratulations!"

• Complete the application (an attachment in the online presentation).

• Email it as an attachment to hpcerts@xcelenergy.com.

• Scan your NATE and BPI certifications and send them to hpcerts@xcelenergy.com

Rocky Mountain Contractor Exchange 2012 Set for Feb. 21 and 22 in Denver

The two-day conference will offer a variety of events and sessions on issues that affect contractors, including incentives offered by municipalities and utilities, the state of the market, marketing strategies, sales, and other topics.

To see the full agenda, please click http://www.egia.org/academy/RockyMountain/2012/agenda.html

To register for the event, please click https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07e597w2mq2075704c&oseq=

If you have registration questions, contact EGIA Event Registration Support at 1-866-367-3442, ext. 385, or registrations@egia.org.

Free Energy Code Workshop Set for Feb. 24 in Carbondale

The workshop will run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The workshop will bring field inspection to the classroom through pictures and examples of common installations seen in the field while performing energy-code compliance inspections and plan reviews. This is an interactive class with participants sharing their experiences and discussing different levels of compliance. This class does not include mechanical requirements—that is its own class. Lunch will be provided at the workshop. Carbondale town hall is located at 511 Colorado Ave. Carbondale.

The workshop is cosponsored by the Town of Carbondale, CLEER, CORE, the Governor’s Energy Office, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. To register, please visit www.iccsafe.org/colorado. You will be required to create a free ICC user name and password to sign up for classes but ICC membership is not required. If you have questions, please contact Shaunna Mozingo, Colorado Code Consulting, LLC, 303-598-3465 or smozingo@coloradocode.net

Free energy code workshops set for February

In “2009 IECC: Real World Applications” field inspection comes to the classroom through pictures and examples of common installations we see in the field while performing energy-code compliance inspections and plan reviews. This is an interactive class with participants sharing their experiences and discussing different levels of compliance. This class does not include mechanical requirements—that is its own class.

In “Residential and Commercial Mechanical Requirements of the IECC” you will learn the requirements of both residential and commercial applications for mechanical equipment as found in the International Energy Conservation code. Also referenced will be the IMC and any conflicts between the two codes. This class does not include in-depth training on Manual J calculations.

Lunch will be provided at both workshops. Carbondale town hall is at 511 Colorado Ave. Carbondale. The workshop is cosponsored by the Town of Carbondale, CLEER, CORE, The Governor’s Energy Office, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

To register, please visit www.iccsafe.org/colorado. You will be required to create a free ICC user name and password to sign up for classes, but ICC membership is not required. If you have questions, please contact: Shaunna Mozingo, Colorado Code Consulting, LLC (303) 598-3465 or smozingo@coloradocode.net.

Lodging Efficiency Workshop Video Coming

Garfield New Energy and CLEER recently held a workshop on energy efficiency in Glenwood Springs. A video was made of the event and is now viewable at http://vod.grassrootstv.org/vodcontent/10398-1.wmv.

Glenwood Springs Offering Rebates on Audits and Energy Upgrades

The City of Glenwood Springs Electric utility and CLEER are offering new incentives to Glenwood electric customers to get energy audits and upgrades. The funding is on a first-come, first-served basis and the Glenwood Springs Electric utility is offering to cover up to $200 on energy audits for residential customers and up to $500 per residence for energy efficiency upgrades (e.g., furnace tune-ups, heat-tape timers, attic insulation when combined with air sealing, evaporative coolers, etc.). Rebates available will mirror current Garfield Clean Energy's Energy Challenge for Homes opportunities.

The Utility is also offering incentives to Glenwood electric customers to go solar. Commercial entities are eligible for rebates of $1.25/watt up to 10 kilowatts; homeowners are eligible for rebates of $1.25/watt up to 6 kilowatts. Rebates will be offered and distributed by CLEER on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on pre-approval requirements, please contact Rob Morey at 704-9200.
In order to get started with an energy audit, contact one of the analysts listed on this page www.garfieldcleanenergy.org/contractors-auditors.html.

Holiday Special from Garfield Clean Energy

Get a rebate of up to $300 on all home energy audits and assessments that are completed during the months of November and December!

The Garfield Clean Energy Challenge for Homes and Businesses offers free "energy coaching" for home and business owners. CLEER/GCE's coaches show home and business owners how to get energy audits and energy conservation measures implemented, and how to apply for the myriad rebates available for audits and retrofits.

Rebates can be used for insulation, furnaces, water heaters

To date 273 homeowners have signed up, while 74 businesses have signed up. Over 100 homeowners have had energy conservation measures implemented in their homes and 35 businesses have had energy conservation measures implemented. For more information, please click here: http://www.garfieldcleanenergy.org.

For a complete digest of all home energy efficiency rebates offered to residents throughout Garfield County, visit www.GarfieldCleanEnergy.org.