A Chaffee County Renewable Energy Planning Initiative

On October 15, 2009 Chaffee County and Incite Consulting hosted a sustainability summit. There was an excellent turnout with representatives from many the Colorado State Government, local businesses, interested citizens and regional energy providers and environmental organizations attending. 

Download the Agenda in PDF format

Download PDF presentations from the Sustainability Summit

• Geothermal Energy in the Heart of the Rockies – Colorado Geological Survey – 3.5mb
• Alliance for Sustainable Colorado – South Central Sustainability Roundtable – 3.6mb
• Xcel Energy – Our Clean Energy Future – 1.5 mb
• Sangre De Cristo Electric – Renewable Energy Incentives – 1 mb
• Colorado Governor’s Energy Office – Recovery Act and Opportunities for Colorado’s New Energy Economy – 1mb

Read about the the Sustainability Summit from local new sources:

• Chaffee County renewable energy planning underway – Salida Citizen
• Sustainability Conference by Audrey Gilpin of the Mountain Mail

Participants

For more information about the Summit, contact Kathryn Wadsworth at kw@incite-consulting.com.

1. Make Your Home More Efficient. Perform an energy audit on your home and install the recommended improvements, such as air sealing and insulation.
2. Lower the Thermostat. Each degree a thermostat is turned down (around the clock) in the winter equates to a cost savings of roughly three percent on your energy bill. Programmable thermostats can help to manage your home’s temperature by consistently changing the setting whenever you want-even if you are asleep or at work.
3. Plug Up Air Leaks. Focus on plugging air leaks in the attic, where warm air escapes, and in the basement, where cold air enters the home.
4. Heat Only Space You Use. Close off unneeded rooms, but ensure water pipes have adequate insulation or heat and don’t freeze.

1. Let the Sun Shine In. Open the window shades on the south and west side of the house during the day to maximize the warmth of the sun, and close them at night.
2. Fix Drafty Windows and Doors. Caulk around window frames and use weather stripping and door sweeps on doors. Use storm windows and put up interior window plastic, available in kits at hardware stores.
3. Clean Up. Keep the area near registers, radiators, air returns and baseboards clear and dust-free. Vacuum or dust radiators and baseboards often and be sure they’re not blocked by furniture and carpets.
4. Close Dampers When You’re Not Using The Fireplace. An open fireplace damper pulls warm air (air you’ve paid to heat) from the house, even when there is no fire.
5. Tune Up Your Equipment. If your heating or hot water equipment has not been serviced recently, make sure it is cleaned and adjusted to operate as efficiently and safely as possible.Save Electricity. Replace your standard incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent bulbs. Plug TVs, VCRs, fax machines, computers, printers, etc. into a power strip and just turn them off.

A summary review of the session questions, some of the questions asked.

• Chaffee County has a good wind energy resource?
• Chaffee County has a good solar energy resource?
• The most important clean energy technology for Chaffee County is…
• In Chaffee County, how many buildings have solar and/or wind systems generating electricity for the utility grid?
• Chaffee County should invest in renewable energy technologies at county facilities
• 18 questions total.

Please note that the first few questions were training questions to familiarize participants with the equipment.

• Chaffee Needs Assessment from the Oct 15, 2009 meeting – Download PDF
• Salida Community Response – results by questions – Nov 18, 2009 – Download PDF
• Buena Vista Community Response – results by question – Nov 19, 2009 – Download PDF
• Compiled Audience Response from the Salida (11-18-09) and Buena Vista (11-19-09) public meetings – Download PDF

The following comments were derived from citizen comments during the Chaffee County Energy Plan public meetings held November 18 & 19, 2009 at the Buena Vista Community Center and the Chaffee County Fairgrounds.
The open comment period was preceded with the question:  “As a citizen of Chaffee County what would you like as a benefit from having an energy efficiency and conservation plan?”
Public Comments – November 18 2009
“I would like…”
•    Dark sky lighting
•    More bicycle and walking trails
•    Denser City developments
•    County Solar and/or wind farms
•    Support for home owners to switch from propane to natural gas
•    Reuse of existing buildings
•    Education on technology, services and resources
•    Weatherization Program
•    Wood Burning as heat
•    Transit System
•    Bio Fuel – Rafting busses
•    Kiosk for ride sharing “Slugging a ride”
•    Support for Agriculture
•    Reduce pollutants
•    Green Jobs
•    Safe Routes to School – Lighted crosswalks, flashing warning lights (Solar powered)
•    Reduce school bus costs – encourage walking and biking
•    HB1350 Implemented
•    Balanced input into the process
•    Good education and evaluation techniques
•    A lower carbon foot print
•    Weatherization for homes and businesses
•    Green building standards
•    Education – What’s in it for me, children, schools/curriculum, (food, energy, building)
•    Go for a BEST grant
•    Job creation
•    Job training
•    Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
•    Woody Biomass – Benefit analysis of biomass heating – (CDOC, Schools, switch from propane to biomass)
•    Education on proper wood burning – “Regulations”
•    Improved technology
•    Education and inclusion for all regardless of income level
•    Financing tools and options
•    Transportation rules – permission to use golf carts around town
•    Geothermal education – electric generation – benefits for all
•    Partnership with utility providers
•    Setting benchmarks – Community involvement, all aspects of the community
•    Short, mid and long term focuses
•    Water – Allow for grey water use

Compiled by Kathryn Wadsworth for the Chaffee County Renewable Energy Plan, November 19, 2009.

INCITE Consulting
123 G Street
Salida, CO  81201
Phone 719-239-2006