The Atmosphere Conservancy: Working toward a better future

In The Atmosphere Conservancy’s mission statement, the organization says it “works to support the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to one utilizing non-polluting renewable energy sources, through the development of community building projects that demonstrate the environmental, economic, and social benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.” In other words, they work to produce a better future by combining sustainability with affordability.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, The Atmosphere Conservancy (TAC) utilizes public funds and private donations to benefit the community economically, socially and environmentally via the development of renewable energy systems at the community level. By providing funding and technical resources to affordable housing agencies, schools and non-profit organizations, TAC strengthens the interface between social, economic and environmental sustainability. “Our projects deliver renewable energy systems that reduce the utility bills or entities serving the public good, providing positive impacts across the community,” said executive director Alex Blackmer.

“This way non-profits, schools and affordable housing providers are better able to focus their attention on mission-critical activities when freed from paying higher utility bills.” Every dollar TAC raises works in three ways:

Cutting Carbon Emissions By focusing on the installation of renewable energy systems, TAC will prevent thousands of tons of carbon from being dumped into our atmosphere. Creating Jobs With job creation stagnating in the current economy, TAC is putting people back to work building a new energy economy that contributes to the well-being of local communities. Supporting Communities By installing solar heat and electrical systems on affordable housing, TAC reduces utility bills for people who can least afford them. By providing green power to schools and non-profits, TAC frees up resources for education, medical, and social services while cutting carbon emissions and educating students and parents about clean, renewable energy.

In July of 2009, TAC successfully completed the installation of a 1.26 million BTU-per-day solar hot water heating system at the Village on Stanford Apartment complex, an 82-unit affordable housing complex owned and managed by the Fort Collins Housing Authority. The system utilizes 42 flat-plate solar thermal collectors and fourteen 120-gallon storage tanks, which provide 50 percent of the domestic hot water for more than 150 residents. In the process, 48,000 pounds of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) are kept out of the atmosphere annually and the FCHA realizes nearly $4,000 a year in savings on their natural gas bill.

TAC has also successfully completed the installation of a 15.2 kW photovoltaic solar array on the apartment complex’s adjacent carport. This system provides more than enough electricity to run the geothermal heating system, making the newly constructed clubhouse a modern, net-zero energy building for the residents to enjoy, while saving the FCHA an additional $1,800 a year on electricity bills and bringing the total CO2 reductions to 1,000 tons over 20 years.

Moving forward, TAC has initiated a similar project with the Housing Authority of the City of Loveland, with funding from the Colorado Carbon Fund, the Governor’s Energy Office and the City of Loveland. Set for completion in October, this system will include 50 solar thermal panels producing 1.62 million BTUs per day with 3,000 gallons of underground hot water storage. It will supply solar hot water for 300 residents of the Maple Terrace apartment complex, residents who earn less than one-third of the area median income level, saving them $137,000 over 20 years and reducing CO2 emissions by 640 tons. TAC has numerous similar projects also in development.

“The Atmosphere Conservancy excels at forging partnerships, leveraging resources, and developing creative financing strategies that make sustainable options an affordable reality for those that need it most,” John Long, TAC’s Director of Development explains. “We look for projects where TAC can lower energy costs, create jobs, and reduce carbon emissions to help ensure that future generations have access to the quality of life we have come to expect in Colorado.”

To learn more about The Atmosphere Conservancy and to find out how you can partner with them, visit www.atmosphereconservancy.org or call their office in Fort Collins at 970-377-9251.

~ Sam DeLeo (Article from Going Green, Colorado Homegrown Business