Live Green

GUIDE TO SUS TA IN A BL E L I V ING IN THE GR A ND VA L L E Y

LIVE

GREEN 2013

REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE

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WELCOME

T

MANAGING EDITOR Tracy Dvorak ADVERTISING SALES Linda Findley, Tamara Morris DESIGNER Malisa Samsel ARTWORK/PHOTOS thinkstockphotos.com PUBLISHED YEARLY BY

145 N. Fourth St. Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-243-2200 editor@gjfreepress.com www.gjfreepress.com

PRINTED BY

Colorado Mountain News Media 200 Lindbergh Drive P.O. Box 1500 Gypsum, CO 81637

he Grand Junction Free Press is excited to unveil its first-ever “Live Green in the Grand Valley” guide. Our goal was to bring all of the valley’s “green” resource information together in one comprehensive local guide. Because we can’t be everywhere turning over every rock, we no doubt missed some, so our apologies in advance. Do drop us a note and tell us about your green venture at editor@gjfreepress.com and we’ll include you next year. And if you like this handy guide, thank our advertisers by supporting their green-related businesses.

As we were putting together this guide, we noticed there is a growing enthusiasm in this community to do right by the environment and to foster a greener community to T h ank s o u r ce s and world. We’ve still have a ways to go to get us all es r g er in ow : Jennif the foll on board, but we hope this guide gets us one step a m r tion w ard fo in le b te ter closer. Going green begins with one small step of v alua and Ear tha S on C en Schenk tr y Conser v ati .org, whether it’s switching off lights, planting a garden, n n er v atio ely igh Cou from H hcountr ycons driving a fuel-efficient vehicle, buying green cleaning finit e d In ig g h lin at e Re c y c ty Solid products, etc. Start small and lean into it.

Cur bsid m, Mes a Coun t o c e nt a at gjcr i. nagem m / — Tracy Dvorak, editor aste Ma w

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 Mesa County Recycling 05 06 07 08

Resources Recycling E-Waste Living Green at Home Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Composting made easy

09 10 12 14 15

W /s unty.us me s aco

Top Toxic Offenders Improve indoor air quality Eating Farm to Table Conservation & Renewable Resource Directory What is a Home Energy Audit?

2013 LIVE GREEN

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WASTE REDUCTION

MESA COUNTY

Recycling Resources Here’s a list of places that recycle various “hard-to-recycle” things.

Depending on the item, you may have to pay a fee; likewise, in some cases, they may pay you, such as in the case of scrap metal. Call ahead as some conditions apply to certain items you may want to dispose.

APPLIANCE RECYCLING Double D Appliance Recycling Center (970) 241-8793 Pacific Steel & Recycling (970) 241-2551 Van Gundy’s (970) 242-9500 BATTERY RECYCLING Phone batteries, car batteries, electronics batteries, etc. — most cases free service at the following locations:

are used to make high quality compost called Mesa Magic.

Scotty’s Lube Center (970) 243-9209

Mesa County Landfill Organic Composting Facility (970) 263-9319

Mesa County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (970) 257-9336

E-WASTE RECYCLING

PACKAGING PEANUTS

Best Buy

UPS Store (970) 241-4646

(970) 245-9455

Curbside Recycling Indefinitely (GJCRI) (970) 242-1036, gjcri.com E-Waste Recyclers of Colorado (970) 986-4002, ewasteofco.com

Batteries Plus (970) 245-7000

Goodwill Industries (970) 243-1745

Hensley Batteries & Electrics (970) 243-6323

LifeSpan Technology Recycling (970) 257-9170

Interstate Batteries (970) 434-4237 CARDBOARD/PAPER/ GLASS/SODA CANS RECYCLING Mesa County Landfill Recycling Center (970) 241-6846 Curbside Recycling Indefinitely (GJCRI) (970) 242-1036, gjcri.com

Mesa County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility (970) 257-9336 METAL RECYCLING Van Gundy’s (970) 242-9500 Pacific Steel & Recycling (970) 241-2551 MOTOR OIL RECYCLING Autozone

(970) 243-3111

Waste Management (970) 243-4345

Checker Auto (970) 245-9127

GREEN WASTE Organic material such as grass clipping, leaves, tree stumps, etc.

Grease Monkey (970) 241-1895

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LIVE GREEN 2013

PLASTIC BOTTLES & CONTAINERS #1, #2 and #5 Curbside Recycling Indefinitely (GJCRI) (970) 242-1036, gjcri.com PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS Look for the big bins near the stores' entrance.

City Market locations, Albertsons, Safeway, Sprouts, Walmart TIRE RECYCLING Cost per tire varies according to tire size.

Big O Tires (970) 243-2440 Discount Tire (970) 242-0444 Mesa County Landfill Recycling Center (970) 241-6846 TDS - Tire Distribution Systems (970) 242-3021

MESA COUNTY

MATERIAL REUSE PROGRAM Many new or near new materials have been turned in by the public for disposal or recycling and are available for reuse at the Mesa County Hazardous Waste Collection Facility, 3071 US Hwy. 50. Mesa County residents can obtain these items at NO COST. Items for reuse include: Paints, stains, select pesticides, spray paint, household cleaners, and other household materials.

Five gallon buckets of off-white latex “recycled paint” can be purchased for $20/bucket. This paint can be purchased during regular operating hours or by appointment. Please call (970) 241-6846 for availability as this paint goes quick!

What to do with your

E-WASTE

Starting in July, landfi lls in Colorado by law will no longer accept discarded electronics and their components, otherwise known as “e-waste.”

Electronics, which contain mercury, lead, cadmium, etc., are toxic to the environment and need to be disposed of safely. Other parts of e-waste can be recycled, such as glass, metal and plastic. Some of it can even be repurposed into art!

Take your unwanted e-waste items to the following local places:

CURBSIDE RECYCLING INDEFINITELY (970) 242-1036 • www.gjcri.com

E-WASTE RECYCLERS OF COLORADO 1027 S. Seventh St. (970) 986-4002 • www.ewasteofco.com They’ll take obsolete and unwanted computers, PC monitors (small fee), printers, fax machines, TVs (small fee), cell phones and all other electronic equipment. They also have hassle-free pick-up service.

E-waste is accepted for a fee at the center MondaySaturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Examples of fees are $12 monitors, $8 CPUs, $8 printers, $5 laptops, $1.25 per inch for TVs. Items are collected by GJ CRI for Lifespan Technology Recycling and sent to their environmentally responsible demanufacturing plant in Denver for processing. (See Lifespan below)

LIFESPAN TECHNOLOGY RECYCLING

BEST BUY

2549 River Road (970) 257-9170 • www.lifespantechnology.com

585 24 1/2 Road (970) 245-9455 The store takes TVs and monitors up to 32 inches, CPU towers, fax machines, printers, etc., for free.

MESA COUNTY HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION FACILITY 3071 Hwy. 50 (landfill) (970) 257-9336 www.mesacounty.us/swm/electronics-recycling.aspx You can only drop off e-waste Thursday-Saturday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The facility accepts all types of e-waste from residents and businesses for a fee of $.42 per pound. Cables, cords and cell phones are accepted for no charge.

The company provides hardware recycling and disposal, data destruction, etc. for corporations and municipalities nationwide.

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES 630 24 1/2 Road (970) 243-1745 Drop off your e-waste at Goodwill. They provide a free service and do what they can to repair and recycle computers, TVs and other electronics for resell.

DID YOU KNOW ...

It is estimated that 1.1 million units of e-waste (monitors, CPUs, cell phones, TVs, copiers, etc.) are disposed of each year by Colorado businesses and residents, according to GJ CRI. 2013 LIVE GREEN

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WASTE REDUCTION

Living green at home An important aspect of living “green” is the concept of “reuse.”

Reuse, in the broadest sense, means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Reusing an item not only keeps materials out of the waste stream but saves the energy associated with manufacturing a new one.

There are many ways to find gently used items in Mesa County at a reasonable discount. From thrift and consignment to reused furniture and home goods, check out these stores in Mesa County to help you “reuse.”

BUILDING & HOME SUPPLIES

The Clothes Closet (970) 243-9873

Habitat’s ReStore Home Supply Store (970) 263-0858

Uptown Again (970) 241-6538

USED CLOTHING & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS Encore Shoppe (970) 242-3662 Fashion Junkie (970) 245-5936 Goodwill Retail Center (970) 243-1745 Heirlooms for Hospice (970) 254-8556 Jo’s Clothes (970) 243-4293 Once Upon A Child (970) 243-0566 Salvation Army (970) 257-1984

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LIVE GREEN 2013

CLOTH DIAPER SERVICE An environmentally friendly alternative to disposable diapers.

Tender Tooshies (970) 261-3330, tendertooshies.com “NATURAL” BABY SUPPLIES & CLOTH DIAPER SALES Colorado Baby (970) 216-8951, pamperedbuns.com PRINTER INK CARTRIDGE REFILLS Monument Ink Jet (970) 424-5236

GRAND JUNCTION FREECYCLE GROUP For years, folks in Grand Junction have maintained a “Freecycle” group through Yahoo Groups. Members post stuff they are giving away in hopes of finding a new home for it and avoiding the landfill. From dog houses, video games, building supplies, you name it, it can be posted for free at Grand Junction Freecycle.

To subscribe to the message board, email GrandJunctionFreecycle-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

To post an item to freecycle, email GrandJunctionFreecycle@yahoogroups.com.

Reduce, reuse & recycle Check out the Habitat ReStore Home Supply Center Before springing for a new couch, kitchen sink or lighting fixture, remember this earthfriendly guidelines for living a low impact eco-life: reduce, REUSE, then recycle.

REUSE

Reuse, in the broadest sense, means any activity that lengthens the life of an item. Reusing an item not only keeps materials out of the waste stream but saves the energy associated with manufacturing a new one,

which has an enormous and positive impact on reducing CO2 emissions. If you’re in the market for home improvement supplies, check out Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Home Supply Center in Grand Junction.

REDUCE & RECYCLE

Reduce your impact on our environment, while supporting our local economy and saving money.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, located at 2936 North Ave., raises money for the building of Habitat for Humanity homes in Mesa

County. The store is open to the public and sells gently used furniture, appliances and building supplies.

The ReStore also works actively to: • Reduce waste in the landfi ll • Reuse gently used goods • Recycle scrap metal and other unsalable items (ask about our e-waste program) • Rebuild Energy Star homes for people in need If you’re looking to off-load gently used home supplies, then you are in luck. Habitat ReStore accepts furniture, fixtures,

windows and doors, used kitchen cabinets (great for using in a garage or basement reorganization), newer appliances, carpets and rugs, tools and more.

ReStore will pick up your donation for free in Mesa County.

Call 970-2630858 to schedule a pick-up or for general information.

Store hours are Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

AND REMEMBER ...

“Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without” is a phrase used

by Eartha Steward of the High Country Conservation Center in Summit County.

And it’s something we should all keep at the top of our minds.

Before springing for a new couch, pair of boots, or lighting fixture, remember these handy guidelines for living a low impact eco-life:

Reduce,

REUSE

then Recycle 2013 LIVE GREEN

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From grass clippings What you can & cannot COMPOST

YES

FOR COMPOST! bones cheese meat sauces pasta eggshells coffee grounds paper napkins paper towels wax paper “BPI certified” compostable products (compostable cutlery and cups)

NO

FOR COMPOST! plastic-lined paper to-go boxes plastic-lined paper plates and cups cardboard milk cartons ice-cream containers juice containers recyclables – metal, plastic, glass… tin foil plastic bags or Saran Wrap styrofoam plastic cutlery plastic cups Source: High Country Conservation Center

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LIVE GREEN 2013

to compost

Pick up some of the rich mixture at Mesa County Organic Materials Composting Facility

I

f you don’t compost at home, but want some of that “brown gold,” head over to the county’s composting facility and purchase some for your gardens.

Location: 3071 Hwy 50, Grand Junction Phone: 970-263-9319 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Services: Free organic material drop-off for all Mesa County residents and businesses.

Items include: Grass clippings, leaves, untreated wood waste and tree limbs (less than 6 feet in length), stall bedding and manure, hay and straw, cull fruit.

What is compost?

Compost is a soil amendment that is a mixture of decomposed organic materials. Compost improves soil structure, texture, and aeration, while increasing the ability of a soil to retain water. Compost loosens clay soils, aids in erosion control, promotes soil fertility and stimulates root development.

Why should I use the Organic Materials Composting Facility?

• Healthier plants with less water • No air pollution from burning • Avoid landfi ll disposal fees with free drop-off program • Conserve valuable landfi ll space • Ecologically and environmentally friendly

Compost products: • Mesa Magic — the primary compost product. Low in salt, high in organic matter. Great for gardens and soilbuilding prior to seeding or planting.

• Ultra Fine — finely screened compost with a balanced microbial content. Perfect for top dressing mature lawns, golf courses and athletic fields.

• Mesa Blend— a 50:50 mixture of Mesa Magic and wood chips. Ideal for soil-building in heavy clay soils.

Wood mulch products: • Pallet Mulch — a durable, light mulch perfect for weed control and moisture retention.

• Composted Mulch — dark in color and ideal for landscape decoration around trees, shrubs and flowers.

How can I purchase compost or wood mulch? Stop by the Mesa

County Organic Materials Composting Facility. Let the facility staff know the amount of the product you would like and they will be happy to help you.

Cost: Compost can be

purchased for $33.36+tax per cubic yard and wood mulch for $14.30+tax per cubic yard. One yard minimum purchase required. Large compost users please inquire about bulk purchase pricing.

They also offer Mesa Magic Compost and Ultra Fine Compost bagged for $3.72+tax per 1.25 cubic foot bag.

GREEN LIVING

toxic cleaning offenders Top

Beware of these products lurking in your home’s supply closet Cleaning products can often harbor a number of toxins that impact our health and the environment.

Unfortunately, unregulated labels and false claims have made it difficult for the consumer to understand what is actually in the product.

Label hints like POISON, WARNING, and DANGER are indicators that a product is toxic. Beyond simple warnings, how do you know what is safe and what to avoid?

Look out for the following: 1. Greenwashers — Greenwashing is the process of using fancy graphics or earth-friendly terms to deceptively promote a product as organic, natural, or ecofriendly. Since labels aren’t regulated and terms like non-toxic and biodegradable are freely used, greenwashed cleaning products can be just as harmful as their chemical counterparts.

2. Phthalates — Phthalates are endocrine disrupters that are common to fragranced products like air fresheners and dish soaps.

Thank you

to the High Country Conservation Center in Frisco and its Executive Director Jennifer Schenk. HC3 provided knowledgeable assistance, content and information for the Free Press' first-ever Live Green Guide of the Grand Valley.

Learn more about green living, green building, waste reduction and sustainablity in Colorado at www.highcountryconservation.org.

GREEN CLEANER RECIPES KITCHEN COUNTER CLEANER 2 cups water 1 tablespoon liquid soap 1/2 cup white vinegar 3/4 cup hydrogen peroxide 20-30 drops tea tree oil WINDOW & MIRROR CLEANER

A healthier alternative is to make your own deodorizers with essential oils like lavender, vanilla and lemon.

3. Triclosan — Many hand soaps and liquid detergents labeled “antibacterial” have triclosan. Triclosan is an endocrine disrupter, known carcinogen, and can promote drug-resistant bacteria.

4. Ammonia — From glass cleaners to bathroom polishing agents, ammonia is a strong smelling chemical that has been known to contribute to asthma, chronic bronchitis and lung issues. A healthier alternative is vodka or white vinegar to get that special shine in your windows and mirrors.

5. Chlorine — Often found in toilet bowl cleaners, laundry whiteners and scouring powders, chlorine produces strong fumes and skin irritations. Our favorite alternatives are baking soda, white vinegar and Borax.

Source: High Country Conservation Center

2 cups water 3 tablespoons white vinegar 1/3 teaspoon liquid soap

It’s majic!

“The Diaper Fairy”

Cle an cloth diapers deli vered to your door!

$13

for 40 diapers/week

info@tendertooshies.com

970 261 3330

www.tendertooshies.com 2013 LIVE GREEN

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GREEN LIVING

Improve indoor air quality with houseplants

CURT SWIFT LIVE GREEN CONTRIBUTOR

S

ome of you may already have spider plant, dracaena, weeping fig and philodendron in your houseplant collection.

These plants are great in removing air pollutants. All you need to do is increase the number of these or add others such as pothos, peace lily (Spathiphyllum), gerbera daisy, Chinese evergreen or English ivy. Even aloe plants have been found to be excellent air-fi ltration plants.

The number of plants recommended for a home under 2,000 square feet is 15. This may seem like a lot of plants but when you space these six-inch pots around the home, you will be surprised how easy they fit in and the little space they take up. Of course, you could buy larger plants and have fewer plants.

Benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene were the target air pollutants of research reported in 1989 conducted by the Associated Landscape Contractors of America and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It

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LIVE GREEN 2013

was estimated at that time that 30 percent of all new and remodeled homes were suffering from “sick-building syndrome.” In an effort to achieve energy efficiency, homes were being made tighter to retain heat and cooling and, thus, reduce energy usage. The downside was that this resulted in retaining pollutants as well.

During the NASA/ALCA study, the leaves, roots, soil and associated microorganisms of plants were evaluated as a possible means of reducing indoor air pollutants. While the amounts of pollutants removed differed between plants, all of the plants examined were effective in cleaning the air.

All of the plants examined in this research study were

BEST

AIR-PURIFYING HOUSEPLANTS 1. Areca palm 2. Lady palm 3. Bamboo palm 4. Rubber plant 5. Dracaena “Janet Craig” 6. English ivy 7. Dwarf date palm 8. Ficus alii 9. Boston fern 10. Peace lily Source: NASA

low-light-requiring species. They do well in areas where the light intensity is adequate for the comfortable reading of a book. The use of charcoal fi lters in addition to plants was found to remove cigarette smoke and organic solvents from the home’s air.

I recently installed a HEPA fi lter, one of the more expensive fine fi ltration types, in my heating system to help improve the quality of the air in our home.

I’m sure that helps take out some of the contaminates we are breathing. I’d suggest you do the same.

I’d also suggest you consider adding more houseplants to your home’s collection, especially those that are known to be most effective in removing and sequestering contaminants from the air. When you add houseplants to your indoor environment, you can expect cleaner air and better health.

Dr. Curtis E. Swift is a retired horticulture agent with the CSU Extension. Reach him at Curtis.Swift@alumni.colostate.edu or check out his blog at http://SwiftsGardeningBlog. blogspot.com. He owns Swift Horticultural Consulting and High Altitude Lavender.

GREEN BULLETIN

AMERICA’S GREENEST COMPANIES 1. IBM 2. Hewlett-Packard 3. Sprint-Nextel 4. Baxter 5. Dell 6. Johnson & Johnson 7. Accenture 8. Office Depot 9. CA Technologies 10. Nvidia

LEAST GREEN COMPANIES 1. Monsanto 2. Ameriprise Financial 3. Philip Morris International 4. Halliburton 5. Charles Schwab 6. Coach 7. ExxonMobil 8. Public Storage 9. Harley-Davidson 10. Christian Dior Source: Newsweek

DID YOU KNOW ...

At the rate Americans are generating garbage today, 500 new landfills would be needed every year.

Source: Green Fact of the Day

THINK BEFORE YOU DRIVE A gallon of gas adds nearly 20 pounds of CO2 to the atmosphere.

Doesn’t sound like much, but here’s a comparison: • One kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity in the U.S. produces 1.5 pounds of CO2.

• 100 cubic feet of natural gas emits 12 pounds of CO2.

• Riding a bicycle adds ZERO pounds of CO2 to the environment.

Source: National Geographic Going Green Guide

ANOTHER REASON TO COMPOST 25% of solid waste in landfi lls is made up of organic matter.

Source: National Geographic Going Green Guide

QUIZ What’s the biggest power consumer in homes? ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

Clothes dryer Refrigerator Iron Hair dryer

Answer: The fridge sucks the most home energy with clothes dryers coming in a close second. An EnergyStar rated fridge consumes 40% less energy than a conventional model sold in 2001. If the average fridge lasts 14 years, it might make buying a new energyefficient model worth the switch.

TOP 10

Source: National Geographic Going Green Guide

2013 LIVE GREEN

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SUSTAINABLE LIVING

THINKING ABOUT

BACKYARD CHICKENS? The City of Grand Junction and Mesa County are pro-urban chicken in that they allow residents to have chickens and roosters, turkeys, ducks, you name it.

“There’s a spacing requirement and a number requirement,” said City of Grand Junction Planning Manager Lisa Cox. “The max is six adult animals on a parcel of .5 acres or less. ... They must be kept outside the residence and confined in some type of enclosure no closer than 20 feet to a principal residential structure, even if it’s on adjoining property.”

And though city and county ordinances don’t prohibit roosters, noise issues can be reported to governing entities if it gets out of control.

Also, “if you’re renting a house and you want to raise a few chickens for fresh eggs, we don’t require that you own property,” Cox said. City regulations simply require “that people be respectful of their neighbors and abide by the rules.”

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From the farm The many ways to the table you can eat locally grown produce

Y

ou don’t have to have a backyard garden to enjoy homegrown produce. There are many ways to eat fresh, local vegetables and fruit. Whether you join a community garden or CSA, or you shop at the farmers’ markets, check out the following information.

COMMUNITY GARDENS MAIN STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN 10th and Main streets www.gjmainstreetcommunitygarden.com Members pitch in and commit to 10 hours per week to work in the garden. Dues are $35 per household for the season, which runs April through October.

GRAND JUNCTION COMMUNITY GARDEN at the library Fifth and Chipeta Info: Susan Rose, 970-244-1841 Sponsored by the Colorado State University Tri-River Area Extension office, the cost for the season is $75 for a 20-by-20 foot plot, which includes water. A locked shed for tool storage is provided.

PALISADE COMMUNITY GARDEN West Fourth Street Info: Sarah Brooks,

970-464-5602 Plot sizes vary and range in price from $25-$45 per season.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE • What is Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)?

CSA is a partnership between local farmers and members of the community. The farmers agree to provide highquality produce for members, who in turn agree to support the farmer by purchasing a share for the entire growing season. The mutual commitment is the core to this sustainable food model: The farm feeds the people and the people support the farm, each sharing the possible risks and potential bounty.

• What are the benefits of joining a local CSA? When you become a member of a CSA, you will know who is growing your food and exactly where it is coming from. Each week you’ll receive the freshest organic produce straight from the farmer’s gardens to your kitchen. Your membership is an active vote for the sup-

port and protection of small businesses and local agriculture. Be local, eat local!

LOCAL & REGIONAL CSAS BORDEN FARMS CSA Delta, Colo.

970-874-5383 www.bordenfarms.com CSA members receive a large seasonal variety of produce each week for approximately 16 weeks, from mid-June to late September, with a bonus week if there is no freeze. There is a Grand Junction pick-up location each Friday during the harvest. A full veggie summer share runs $495.

FIELD TO FORK CSA Palisade, Colo.

970-216-2642 www.fieldtoforkcsa.com

out so that children can see where their food comes from and hopefully gain appreciation for the bounty.

Serving about 80 households, the 18-week summer organic garden vegetable share runs from June 6-Oct. 5. Prices range from $11/week to $44/week. No GMO seed and no herbicides, pesticides or fungicides. The mission of farmers Scott and Jessica Washkowiak is to always take care of the land first.

AREA FARMERS MARKETS

PICK-YOUR-OWN FARM GREEN ACRES U-PICK 3601 G Road, Palisade 970-640-2010 The farm is planning on a mid-to-late May opening with strawberries, beets and peas as some of the first crops.

Farmers Bob and Elaine Korver farm the land and leave the harvesting to others.

By doing so, they are able to keep the produce price low. One of their goals is to encourage families to come

REDUCE ENERGY

SAVE

MONEY

GRAND JUNCTION FARMERS’ MARKET Thursdays, 5-8:30 p.m.

June 13-Sept. 19 Downtown Main Street, between Third and Seventh streets

Call WBS Energy Solutions for your Solutions to high energy costs.

SCHEDULE YOUR HOME’S PERSONALIZED ENERGY AUDIT!

FRUIT & RANCH MARKET AT TELLER ARMS Wednesdays & Saturdays (May-October), 8 a.m.-noon 28th Street & North Avenue FRUITA FARMERS’ MARKET Saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon June-September Fruita Civic Center Park, corner of Peach and Aspen

CALL TODAY!

WBS

Energy Solutions

970.433.6644 Contractor | BPI Certified Auditor | Certified Air Sealer & Installation Specialist

PALISADE SUNDAY MARKET Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 16-Sept. 22 Third and Main streets, Palisade

DID YOU KNOW ...

Fins Grill, 420 Main St., is the only restaurant in town that serves 100% wild, certified sustainable fish acceptable by FAO-Based Certification Guidelines, Global Trust Certification and Seafood Watch. Much of the fish comes fresh from restaurant owner Ron Hegge’s own commercial fishing boats in Alaska. For more information, visit www.finsgrill. us or call 970-986-3474.

So what is “sustainable” seafood? It’s seafood that’s managed and fished using practices that ensure there will be more to catch in the future, and do not compromise the surrounding ecosystem.

PROTECTING YOUR DATA AND THE ENVIRONMENT

WWW.EWASTEOFCO.COM 4/20 Eath Day Celebration and 4/20 4/27 4/27 4/27 6/1

Southwest Arbor Fest Glenwood Springs Recycle Event Basalt Recycle Event Hochkiss Recycle Event Delta Recycle Event Grand Valley Zoological Society Event @ American Furniture Warehouse

E-Waste Recyclers of Colorado Call to create your E-Waste event!

(970) 986-4002 2013 LIVE GREEN

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GREEN ENERGY

CONSERVATION & RENEWABLE RESOURCE

DIRECTORY ENERGY AUDITORS EnergyWise Companies 970-242-9473 energywisecompanies.com WBS Energy Solutions 970-433-6644

ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS

Energy, land conservation & gardening

GREEN BUILDERS/ ENERGY STAR BUILDER PARTNERS

Grand Valley Trails Alliance 970-462-7151 gvtrails.com

Canyon Creek Builders 970-216-0676

Mesa Land Trust 970-263-5443 mesalandtrust.org

Griffin Concepts 970-241-9223 Habitat for Humanity Mesa County 970-263-0858

Tamarisk Coalition 970-256-7400 tamariskcoalition.org

Porter Homes 970-210-6324

Colorado Riverfront Commission 970-683-4333 riverfrontproject.org

Senergy Builders 970-248-8500

ORGANIC LAWN CARE & SUPPLIES

Wilco Enterprises 970-242-2203

Desert Bloom Hydroponics 970-245-6427

Colorado Environmental Coalition 970-243-0002

Zag Built 970-257-0171

High Country Lawns 970-245-0875

Sustainability Council at Colo. Mesa University coloradomesa.edu

LAND CONVERSATION STEWARDS

The Indoor Gardener 970-434-9999

Western Colorado Congress 970-256-7650 wccongress.org

Colorado Canyons Assoc.

970-263-7902 coloradocanyonsassociation.org

EnergyWise Companies 970-242-9473 energywisecompanies.com WBS Energy Solutions 970-433-6644

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

Western Colorado Conservation Corps 970-241-1027 wcccpartners.org

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LIVE GREEN 2013

Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Assoc.

970-244-8877 copmoba.org

RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICES Solar, wind, hydro ...

Atlasta Solar 970-248-0057 atlastasolar.com High Noon Solar 970-241-0209 highnoonsolar.com

Renewable Energy Specialists 970-270-2227 respecialists.com Simplicity Solar 970-314-2679 simplicitysolar.com Solar Design Group 970-256-7024 solardesigngroupllc.com Syndicated Solar 970-364-9456 syndicatedsolar.com The Solar Depot 970-241-7966 thesolardepotstore.com

SUSTAINABLE LIVING PRODUCTS Atlasta Solar 970-248-0057 lou@atlastasolar.com The Solar Depot 970-241-7966 thesolardepotstore.com

WHAT IS A

home energy audit? and blower door test to Like a home inspection examines structural identify areas of air leakage and mechanical aspects of a house, a home and insulation perforenergy audit examines and tests a home’s energy mance problems. efficiency, health and safety.

• Carbon monoxide testing.

Upgrading a home’s energy efficiency can save • A 20-26-page, in-depth homeowners up to hundreds if not thousands of report detailing every facet of the inspection includdollars a year in energy costs.

WHY HAVE AN AUDIT DONE? • Lower your energy bills • Increase your home’s comfort. Ask yourself: Is your home still chilly in the winter even though the heat is cranked up? Or is your home hot during the summer even with the swamp cooler blasting away?

• Because you care about Mother Nature, conserving energy and minimizing your carbon footprint

TYPICAL HOME AUDITS INCLUDE: • Evaluation of your energy bills and usage.

• Thorough inspections of appliances, windows, door seals, weather-stripping, hot water heater, A/C, furnace, crawl space, attic, insulation, the exterior of the home, and more, for ways energy is being wasted.

• Use of an infrared camera

ing solutions to fix issues specific to your home and listed in order of priority.

LOCAL HOME ENERGY AUDIT PROVIDERS: • EnergyWise Consultants — 970-242-9473, vnelson@energywisecompanies.com • WBS Solutions, Ron DeRose — 970-433-6644, rsderose@q.com For homeowners with Xcel Energy, Xcel is currently offering up to a $200 rebate for in-home energy audits. For information on all the rebates Xcel offers, visit xcelenergy.com and click on “Save Money & Energy.”

OTHER XCEL ENERGY

REBATES Xcel Energy customers have the opportunity to get residential rebates on many home upgrades which boost energy efficiency. These rebates are subject to change and conditions do apply.

• Up to $1,000 rebate on evaporative cooling units • Up to $450 on water heaters • Up to $100 on qualifying boilers • Up to $120 for qualifying furnaces • Up to $300 for installation of insulation • $50 rebate for refrigerator recycling (call 866-552-8755) • FREE weatherization services including window replacement, insulation, etc.

— based on income qualification. For more info on this program, call Housing Resources of Western Colorado at 970-241-2871.

For more information on rebate criteria or to apply, visit xcelenergy. com and click on “Save Money & Energy” or call 800-895-4999.

2013 LIVE GREEN

15

Western Colorado’s ONLY Solar Show Room!

3 WAYS TO GO SOLAR

1. Purchase 2. Lease 3. Prepaid power

SHOWROOM DISPLAYSSEE FOR YOURSELF HOW SOLAR WORKS

-Hot water thermal -Off grid battery backup -Photo voltaic grid tie

Stop in- Let’s talk Saving YOU money with Solar We service any and all installed solar systems Free initial consultation

Innovative Energy Solutions Since 1979

970-248-0057

SALES & SERVICE OVER 2000 SYSTEMS INSTALLED SINCE 1979

www.atlastasolar.com

Hours M-F 7:30-5:30 Sat by appt.

1111 S. 7th Street ( 7th & riverside parkway) Let us help your in-home comfort and safety and as well assist with savings on your utility bill.

Serving Western Colorado & Eastern Utah

Our mission is to promote energy efficiency in new and existing buildings. We are experts at finding energy loss in your home or business, reducing or eliminating the loss through energy efficiency improvements, and certifying your building as ENERGY STAR

BUILDING A HOME? NEW HOME BUILDER? Improve Home performance through building science

Energywisecompanies.com

970-242-9473

Certifying your home as EnergyStar BPI Certified