FortZED Community Energy Challenge
CALLING ALL MARMOTS, COYOTES, RATTLESNAKES, BLACK BEARS, AND BISON: It’s time for the FortZED Community Energy Challenge!
Written by Charlie Malone
Saturday, 2 October 2010
The FortZED Community Energy Challenge team unveiled their program to a public forum at New Belgium Brewery on September 13. The Community Energy Challenge brings together partners from the Atmosphere Conservancy, UniverCity Connections, The Community Foundation of Northern Colorado, Grass Commons, Toolbox Creative, The Bohemian Foundation, and the Downtown Development Authority to lay the important groundwork for the innovative and ambitious FortZED project aiming to turn much of Fort Collins into a Zero Energy District. The radical idea means a huge part of the city will generate as much energy as it uses. FortZED will be possible thanks to a $6.3 million RDSI grant from the Department of Energy and an additional $5 million in community support. Ideally, we’ll need no new power plants and no new coal extraction or burning will be needed to serve Fort Collins. Sustainability often loses meaning, but the groundbreaking FortZED project offers an unmuddled definition: only use what you make.
The Community Energy Challenge aims to “engage and empower the estimated 6,200 residents in the district to reduce energy consumption via energy efficiency and conservation measures, as well as renewable energy installations.” The challenge seeks to change our behavior, encourage us to fix the easy things like light bulbs and weatherproofing and inspire us to invest in the bigger pieces like solar panels.
To explain this all I decide to ask Ariana Friedlander from the Atmosphere Conservancy what excites her most about the program and how we can talk about this program without getting bogged down in megawatts. Here’s what we came up with:
The Challenge, in addition to setting up competition, gives people specific actions and provides clear guidance. So, not only are the Old Town Jackalopes in direct competition with the East Laurel Street Marmots to see which neighborhood can reduce their use the most, but each household gets a detailed list of the steps they can take. At the “Beginner” level participants pledge to switch your bulbs over and take advantage of the natural rhythms of the day to help heat and cool your house. At the “Intermediate” level you’re switching over to energy star appliances and at the “Advanced” level you’re installing skylights or a small wind generator.
The program is collaborative. Recruiting and training 100-150 volunteers to canvas communities make this a unique program. Strangers aren’t knocking on your doors stuffing pamphlets down your throat, it’s your neighbors and they’re inviting you to a block party.
Ariana is excited, and I’m pretty impressed that in 2008 and 2009 we saw the first reduction in energy demand for the city since the 1930′s. This means the behavioral change that makes investing in renewable sources and SmartGrid technology worthwhile is possible. Ariana points out this kind effort can be really effective. Rocky Mountain High School was able to do all the little things needed to get energy consumption in their 1970′s era building below that of the brand-new LEED Certified Fossil Ridge facility. Go Lobos!
Ariana is issuing a loud call to action she says, “We need you to make this happen.” She wants every one to “go to the website FortZEDChallenge.com, find which pack you run with, Pledge to Help Take it to Zero and choose which checklist you’ll complete!” You can also get more involved taking on a “Pack Leader” or “Ranger” role in reaching out to your community.
It’s exciting to get in on the ground-floor of a such a big first. If the competition doesn’t get you going, or if the straightforward, realistic steps aren’t easy enough for you to follow, and you’re just shameless enough to hold the rest of the community back, I’m not sure what Ariana or an army of volunteers can do for you. But if you’re interested in getting involved or learning more visit www.FortZEDchallenge.com.