Friday, May 4, 2012

Colorado Green Building Guild



CGBG

The Colorado Green Building Guild, (recently known as the Boulder Green Building Guild) is a non-profit trade organization representing a wide range of green building leaders. This organization has an incredible list of resources for business owners, homeowners, building professionals and anyone interested in the subject. They are well known for their workshops and helpful newsletters. Whether you are looking for a job, looking for a contractor, looking for information, or looking to volunteer, those resources are very accessible to you through their website. CGBG is also responsible for Footprint Radio, a radio talk show focusing on green building, conscious living, and shaping sustainable futures. This airs on KGNU 88.5 FM on the third Thursday of every other month at 8:35 am! Or catch up on their latest topics in the “At Home” section of the Daily Camera every Thursday.


written by Roxanna Shohadaee

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Community Partners




Highlighting and Connecting with our partners in the community

EnergySmart is a collaborative effort across Boulder County. Boulder County is a thriving community working together for a better future. In the Community Partners category, we will highlight some of the organizations, groups, and people doing great sustainability-related work here in Boulder County (and surrounding area). We will announce new and exciting projects they may have coming up, and highlight exciting events  - some hosted by EnergySmart, and others happening in the community. Please contact us if there is something going on in the community that you think would be good to highlight!


written by Roxanna Shohadaee

Landscaping




Landscaping


"Colorado" comes from the Spanish word meaning colorful, and for good reason. When we observe this beautiful place it is full of colorful people, spaces, and places. What are some of the most colorful spaces in each neighborhood? Our yards! Whether small or big, it can be complicated to plan a sustainable yard.


Lets face it, the soil here is different and it can be challenging to know what to do, and what to plant!


Local Plants


One of the best ways to be efficient when gardening in Colorado is to use local plants. They generally do well in our soils, and require much less water than non-native plants. Save energy, water, and money and plant native! Check out this link to Boulder County's index of native plants.

see Gardening with Boulders Naitive Plants


Stay tuned for more tips under the Landscaping label!



written by Roxanna Shohadaee

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Do-It-Yourself!



photo credit: amanda law

Wonder how you can be more energy efficient on your own? Well you've come to the right place. One category of our blog will be dedicated to collecting some helpful, accurate, and creative resources for you to tackle energy efficiency in your home or business. Whether you are a renter, a home-owner, or a business owner, you will be able to find tips and tools to help you do-it-yourself here.

To get started, here's a few low/no-cost ways to save energy today:
1.         Check your heating and cooling systems: Clean vents, replace dirty filters and program thermostats to account for different day and night temperatures
2.         Swap out light bulbs: As about 10% of a typical electric bill is eaten up by lighting, swap out high-wattage bulbs with CFL or LEDs from EnergySmart to start saving money now.
3.         Hunt for energy vampires: Unplug any unused devices in your home, even if they are turned off they are using energy.





written by Roxanna Shohadaee