FortZED energy challenge aims to engage residents

5 October 2010

The FortZED Community Energy Challenge was recently launched at the Sustainable Living Fair. This is the first grass-roots outreach initiative in the FortZED district to educate and engage residents to get involved. Residents in the district can help work toward achieving a net zero energy district through efficiency, conservation and renewable-energy generation.

The FortZED Community Energy Challenge is working in partnership with The Atmosphere Conservancy to engage and empower the estimated 15,000 residents (6,200 households) in the district to reduce energy consumption. This outreach effort will place a heavy emphasis on bringing our community together through house parties and community events.

To see if your neighborhood is in the FortZED district, visit www.fortzed challenge.com. The district is essentially a large square bordered by Prospect Road, Lemay Avenue, Vine Drive and Shields Street. The district is broken down into 31 territories cleverly named after animals. Figure out which pack you are in and take the Community Energy Challenge pledge, which includes a checklist of three different levels of actions you can take to contribute to the efforts.

You don’t have to live in the district to take the pledge. Residents in the greater Fort Collins area are encouraged to participate as well. You can also volunteer and put your skills and passion to work. Volunteers are needed to spread the word, encourage neighbors to take the pledge, and help people to navigate through the rebates and tax incentives that are available.

There are many incentives and rebates available to residents in Fort Collins. This outreach effort is designed to help you navigate these resources to find what can work best for you. Visit www.fcgov.com/natural resources to learn more about current incentives and rebates specific to Fort Collins residents.

The Governor’s Energy Office has collected the most comprehensive resource of energy-related rebates and incentives available at its website, http://rechargecolorado.com. In addition to Recharge Colorado rebates, its website lists federal and local incentives as well as offers from manufacturers and retailers.

The Energy Action Planner from the Governor’s Energy Office is your one-stop tool for information on how best to improve your energy efficiency and save money. The Recharge Colorado Energy Action Planner offers a range of tools to help energy consumers throughout the state to save money and reduce our impact on the environment through energy efficiency and renewable-energy solutions.

FortZED is a community initiative to transform Fort Collins’ UniverCity area into a net-zero-energy user. A zero-energy district is about using less energy and producing and managing our energy differently. It’s about developing new technology, policy changes and taking action from you.

The Community Energy Challenge contributes to FortZED by creating a zero-energy district to reduce the demand for energy. Engaging in energy-saving practices at home will help to reduce demand.

Visit www.FortZEDchallenge.com and pledge to help take it to zero today.