American Solar Energy Society » CRES http://www.ases.org Leading the Renewable Energy Revolution Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:50:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 News from the Colorado Renewable Energy Society http://www.ases.org/news-from-the-colorado-renewable-energy-society/ http://www.ases.org/news-from-the-colorado-renewable-energy-society/#comments Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:25:27 +0000 Ariel Braude http://www.ases.org/?p=10197

A Note from the Executive Director

Dear CRES Members and Friends,
In this month of Thanksgiving, there is much to be thankful for. Here are some of the recent gifts CRES is most appreciative for:
-First of all, we survived the election attention heaped on Colorado!
-All the time and hard work volunteers put in on the Denver Area Sustainable Living Tour and the SECRES Tour of Sustainable Buildings
-Members whose continued support enables CRES to promote policies, programs and practices that support renewable energy and energy efficiency.
On December 4th, CRES supporters will have a special opportunity to contribute during Colorado Gives Day. Please remember CRES on this special day of giving atwww.givingfirst.org/renewable.You can even give TODAY and schedule your gift to be counted on Colorado Gives Day.
As we prepare for the holidays and the year ahead, I encourage CRES members and supporters to continue making progress on renewable energy issues and trends from around the state. We are all in this together!
I look forward to our exciting work ahead.
 
Lorrie McAllister
Executive Director, CRES
CRES Volunteer Needs

Marketing, Programs Top the List

CRES has needs for volunteers in the following projects and roles:

  • Data input in our eTapestry database. Project will require 4-6 hours of work initially, and then 1-2 hours per  month. After initial training, work may be performed at home. Skills required: familiarity with databases, good organizational skills, attention to detail.
  • Social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Meetup) volunteer to post news, stories and events and to assist in developing guidelines for posting. Position requires 2-4 hours per month from any location. Skills required: proficiency in posting on social media, ability to comply with CRES posting guidelines, and ability to keep abreast of breaking news. Prefer ability to attend occasional Marketing and Communication Committee meetings.
  • Programs Committee members to help plan and execute monthly speaker series in the Denver area. Includes selection of topics, arranging speakers and venues, securing or arranging for refreshments, and setting up before meetings and clean-up after meetings. Positions require approximately 2-4 hours per month, ability to attend occasional meetings, and preferably availability on the 4th Thursday of the month in the evening. Skills required: good communication and organization, willingness to do legwork. Contacts in renewable energy and/or energy efficiency fields preferred.
  • Marketing & Communications Committee chair and members to support projects and events. Includes review of promotional materials, drafting and/or review of press releases, graphic design, public relations, developing communications and marketing plan development. Positions require 2-4 hours per month, ability to attend monthly meetings (may participate via conference call sometimes). Skills required: communication and organization, web, print and social media proficiency, editing and writing, design and/or other skills as required by projects. Chair position requires leadership skills and ability to plan and oversee execution of marketing projects.
Submit a letter of interest to volunteer@cres-energy.org

Das Haus Pavilion a Success

Sustainability Park Highlighted

In October, over 1500 visitors toured Das Haus as Denver hosted the pavilion at Denver’s Sustainability Park on the 12th and final stop of a North American tour.

CRES AROUND THE STATE

Denver Area: Toward Low Cost Solar Water Heaters
Speaker Series and Networking 11/15
NOTE SPECIAL DATE!
Solar water heating means free hot water for many years, yet the up front costs are currently a barrier to widespread adoption of this technology.
Join CRES on November 15th when Jay Burch relates recent progress and plans for the future as this presentation lays out potential pathways to radically reducing the cost of solar water heaters (SWHs) for single-family residential applications. In order to attain significant market penetration, the simple payback must be reduced to 7 years or less.

For more information on this presentation, go to http://www.cres-energy.org/events/

Jay Burch, Ph.D. is senior physicist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, with over 30 years experience in the areas of modeling and measurement of thermal systems. His main research area is the reconciliation of thermal simulation models with measurements, for both buildings and solar hot water systems.

He has managed the research in the Solar Heating and Cooling Program since 1995, including the U.S. Department of Energy initiative supporting industry-led development of low-cost polymer-based solar water heaters which can be installed under $3000. This project resulted in market entry of two low-cost solar water heaters. He is now leading a recently-started NREL-industry collaboration for ultra-low-cost solar water heaters, with goal of an installed system cost of under $1000 without rebates, excluding uncontrollable soft costs.

Spotlight Presentation: Denver Energy Challenge
The Denver Energy Challenge is a free energy program provided by the City and County of Denver and is available to help residents and businesses cut energy waste, while saving money and increasing indoor comfort and air quality. Free energy advisors are provided along with access to exclusive rebates and low-cost loans which can also finance solar when you participate.
11/15 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. at CRES Office, 3245 Eliot St., Denver, CO 80211
Cost: Members are FREE; Non-members pay $10
Northern Colorado: Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

NCRES’ next program is Tuesday, November 13th: Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the Home: ENERGY STAR Mortgages, PowerSaver Loans & Refinancing

How do I pay for this? The financing of home energy efficiency improvements or adding renewable energy systems has been a major challenge to homeowners achieving their goals.  Stephen Ponce-Pore of the Bank of Colorado will demonstrate financing options for making these improvements for existing homeowners, via refinancing, as well as new home mortgages.  Come learn about your options for increasing the comfort and reducing the operating costs of your home.

At the Bank of Colorado, Stephen initiated the development of the Colorado ENERGY STAR Mortgage, which formed a partnership with the Governor’s Energy Office and Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes to provide reduced mortgage rates to homeowners that renovate their homes for energy efficiency and for the buyers of new ENERGY STAR Homes.  He recently led the bank in its successful bid to become the only Colorado based bank to offer the new FHA PowerSaver Loan.

Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Odell Brewing Company Tasting Room, 800 E. Lincoln Ave., Fort Collins
Admission: $5.00 for non-members

DUCRES: 24 Hours of Reality and the Role of Renewable Energy

Mark your calendars for the next DUCRES general meeting and speaker event on November 14th from 7:30 – 9:00 PM.

David Bowden, a former President of CRES, will speak to DUCRES about how renewable energy projects and policies can help to combat the increasing impacts of global climate change. Mr. Bowden is a passionate renewable energy advocate with a background in Television editing and production including PBS NewsHour. Our November 14th meeting coincides with a 24 hour global webcast from former Vice President Al Gore called 24 Hours of Reality: The Dirtiest Weather Report. The webcast plans to demonstrate how global climate change and extreme weather are affecting our lives and our planet. It seems the timing of this webcast is perfect in light of Hurricane Sandy.
Details: University of Denver, Sturm College of Law in Room 190
CRES Calendar

  • November 13, NCRES, Financing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy for the Home: ENERGY STAR Mortgages, PowerSaver Loans & Refinancing, Time: 7 p.m. Location: Odell Brewing Company Tasting Room, 800 E. Lincoln Ave.
  • November 14, DUCRES, Renewable Energy Projects and Policies to Combat Climate Change, with Dave Bowden. Time 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. at University of Denver, Sturm College of Law in Room 190
  • November 15 (note special date), CRES Denver Area Speaker Series and Networking Meeting, CRES office at the Habitat for Humanity Building, 3245 Eliot St., Denver, CO 80211
  • December 4, Colorado Gives Day: 24 hours to Give Where You Live! www.coloradogives.org/renewable
  • December 6, CRES Legislative Briefing at the State Capitol, “Colorado Energy and Colorado Water: the Nexus”. More details soon.
  • December 13, CRES Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, CRES office, 3245 Eliot St., Denver. More details soon.
]]> http://www.ases.org/news-from-the-colorado-renewable-energy-society/feed/ 39 October 6th, Solar Tours In Review http://www.ases.org/october-6th-solar-tours-in-review/ http://www.ases.org/october-6th-solar-tours-in-review/#comments Tue, 09 Oct 2012 19:31:04 +0000 Ariel Braude http://ases.org/?p=9789 This past weekend, over 500 solar tours were held around the country. Even with bad weather in many locations, the tours still took place and created great buzz about communities that are going solar!

Crossville, TN

“Roughed It out doors with the few that did showed up. Toured a few more sites. Then close the day at my house with hot chocolate, coffee, and warm danish.  Finished our solar discussion and jumped in to home energy tips.  All in all it was a great day for those that did show.” - Theodore Polczynski, Tour organizer

Ypsilanti, MI

“This year’s event, which is part of the National Solar Tour, consisted of eight new solar installations, bringing the total number to 10. Dave Strenski, event organizer, said attendance was nearly the same as last year’s inaugural event. Strenski was at the Ypsilanti City Hall, one of the stops, where he spoke to people about solar energy. city hall has 12 solar panels installed in 2010 by volunteers.” – Amy Bell, The Ypsilanti Courier, Ypsilanti: Solar Tour featured stops throughout the city

Berea, KY

Solar tour from shelly slocum on Vimeo.

Richard Olson, Tour Organizer

Denver, CO

On September 29, 2012, the Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) held their tour in Denver. CRES’ Executive Director, Lorrie McAllister, and ASES’ President, Susan Greene, teamed up and went to view some of the great houses on the 2012 Denver Area Sustainable Living Tour together!

]]> http://www.ases.org/october-6th-solar-tours-in-review/feed/ 29 WREF/CRES: May 17 is Electric Vehicle Day in Colorado http://www.ases.org/wrefcres-may-17-is-electric-vehicle-day-in-colorado/ http://www.ases.org/wrefcres-may-17-is-electric-vehicle-day-in-colorado/#comments Thu, 19 Apr 2012 20:41:34 +0000 Seth Masia http://ases.org/?p=3902 Gov. Hickenlooper Declares May 17 Electric Vehicle Day

Colorado Renewable Energy Society hosts Electric Avenue, May 16-17

Nissan Leaf

The Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) today announced it will host a showcase of electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging and conversion technologies in downtown Denver, May 16-17, 2012, inspiring Governor Hickenlooper’s proclamation of statewide Electric Vehicle Day, May 17. Located at 14th St. and California St., CRES’ Electric Avenue is free and open to the public from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The event highlights CRES’ continuing outreach and collaboration with a range of organizations throughout the region to educate and promote clean cities, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Gov. Hickenlooper proclaimed May 17th as Electric Vehicle Day in Colorado in recognition of CRES’ Electric Avenue and the American Lung Association’s other Project FEVER (Fostering Electric Vehicle Expansion in the Rockies) events, which encourage education and adoption of EV’s across the state.

Electric Avenue will be adjacent to the World Renewable Energy Forum (WREF), which will be held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, May 13-17 2012. The forum is estimated to attract 4,000 participants from around the world, including those attending Showcase Colorado, a 16-session track organized by CRES . With WREF attendees and over 100,000 downtown workers and visitors who pass that location every day, Electric Avenue is expected to draw a significant number of visitors. This event gives sponsors the opportunity to showcase EVs and EV supply equipment to an international audience, many of whom are early adopters of renewable energy and efficiency technologies.

“This event provides a great opportunity for people to get their first hands-on experience with an EV,” said Lorrie McAllister, CRES executive director. At Electric Avenue, Coloradans and visitors from around the world will have the opportunity to learn about EVs and EV charging technologies. We encourage curious consumers to come and kick the tires and perhaps take a test drive.”

Electric Avenue is one of several EV-related events sponsored in part by the American Lung Association and administered by Denver Clean Cities Coalition. Over 80 Colorado organizations have come together under the banner of Project FEVER (Fostering Electric Vehicle Expansion in the Rockies). This broad, wide-ranging coalition includes educational institutions, municipalities, transit agencies, private industries, other state agencies, regional partners, subcontractors and utilities. The event is being sponsored by ECOtality, a leader in EV charging technology. Denver’s Channel 7 will also be onsite to film the event for their afternoon broadcast.

For information on how to participate in Electric Avenue, contact Brandon Williams, CRES Electric Avenue Chair,

b.williams@cres-energy.org or 720-938-6614.

]]> http://www.ases.org/wrefcres-may-17-is-electric-vehicle-day-in-colorado/feed/ 0 Sustainability Park: a new twist on the “park” paradigm http://www.ases.org/sustainability-park-a-new-twist-on-the-park-paradigm/ http://www.ases.org/sustainability-park-a-new-twist-on-the-park-paradigm/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:21:44 +0000 Carolyn Beach http://ases.org/?p=2838 Drawing of sustainability park plan

Schematic drawing of plans for Denver's new Sustainability-Park

CRES (the Colorado Renewable Energy Society) has formed partnerships with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) and Urban Farmers Collaborative to develop a 2.5 acre site in east Denver, into a cutting-edge sustainability park.

What’s a sustainability park? In this case, it’s a showcase of many different renewable energy and sustainability technologies. From solar panels to wind mills, landscaping materials to urban gardening, green building techniques to alternative transportation, this park will be a demonstration mecca.

The park itself will have solar-powered street lights, electric-car charging stations, a shared bicycle station and sustainable rain-water handling. In addition, there will be a community garden, demonstration sites for many different solar technologies, an amphitheater for education and and entertainment and much more.

CRES is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society and offers a tour of the park as part of their “Showcase Colorado” at the ASES annual conference, WREF2012.  The tour will be 1:30 to 5 pm on Tuesday May 15. For more information, contact CRES.

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