News Briefs

Want to know what's going on with energy efficiency and renewable energy in Colorado? The ColoradoENERGY.org News Briefs section is designed to allow Colorado energy organizations to post updates on their activities. The updates are organized by most recent and can be viewed by clicking on the links below. You can also submit an update to be included.

U.S. Department of Energy Race to Zero Student Design Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Race to Zero Student Design Competition (Race to Zero) inspires collegiate students to become the next generation of building science professionals through a design challenge for zero energy ready homes. Students become part of a new leadership movement to achieve truly sustainable homes.

The DOE Race to Zero Student Design Competition will be held at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado.

Below are key dates for the 2017 competition:

- June 30, 2016 - Release of 2017 Race to Zero Competition Guide and team application opens.
- November 1, 2016 - All teams must complete the team application and are encouraged to submit a 3-page design concept.
- July 2016 to February 2017 - Webinars and building science training available.
- February 28, 2017 - The deadline by which teams must complete the Project Progress Report. Also the deadline by which student team members confirm completion of Building Science Training.
- April 4, 2017 - The deadline by which teams must upload their final Project Report Submittals.
- April 22-23, 2017 - Invited teams compete with presentations to industry leaders at NREL.

C2C Fellows Youth Sustainability Leadership Workshop

CU-Boulder, Feb 22-24

C2C Fellows convenes regional weekend training workshops for selected current students and recent college graduates. Workshops cover communication, entrepreneurship, environmental and climate science, media, raising capital, and other critical topics. These are working meetings: the output for each student will be to develop one key leadership skill: communication. Graduates of the C2C Fellows Workshops are eligable for scholarships to continue their leadership training, as well as to become funded graduate students at the Bard Center for Environmental Policy.

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Local Architect Publishes Book On Designing Green Homes in Colorado

A new book about design green Colorado homes was just published: “Passive Solar Simplified: Easily design a truly green home for Colorado and the West” helps folks building or remodeling homes who want to save money, improve their health, and tread more lightly on the planet get all the information they need about passive solar design to save over 80% of their energy costs. This book’s unique advantage is that the author, Thomas Doerr, has many years of experience both teaching green building and implementing this knowledge in actual houses. Plus, it is tailored specifically for Colorado and its surrounding states. Learn more at http://PassiveSolarSimplified.com

Sustainable Practices Program Spring Courses available online

Spring 2012 courses are now available for enrollment for the Sustainable Practices Program.

Sustainable Practices is a non-credit professional development program to help working adults gain the necessary skills to become a sustainability leader. Each single-day course can be taken individually or towards a Certificate in Sustainability Management.

Spring courses include:
-Energy Legislation and Policy Analysis
-Tools and Techniques for Sustainability
-Residential Renewable Energy (online)
-Introduction to Solar Energy (online)
-Introduction to Wind Energy (online)

Enroll Now at http://sustainable.colorado.edu

Energy Hogs...Coming Soon to Homes Near You!

A public service advertising campaign that features a dastardly new character, the Energy Hog, is slated to debut in early 2004 by the Ad Council – creators of Smokey Bear, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk” and other famous campaigns. The Energy Hog puts an exciting face to the invisible concept of wasting energy, taking a topic of low interest and making it fun for children, while empowering them to take the lead at home in inspiring their parents to make wise energy choices. This campaign will include TV and radio ads, web banners and an interactive website, www.EnergyHog.org.

Energy Outreach Colorado, the Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Home Depot, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association and 20 state energy offices have have teamed up for this three-year campaign targeting children ages 8-13 and their parents. For more information visit www.EnergyHog.org.