Insanely good rebates for commercial property owners – now is the time to make efficiency upgrades.  From Boulder County:

The ClimateSmart Loan Program has $12 million of energy efficiency and renewable energy financing available to commercial property owners (including non-profit entities) through July 12, 2010.  The five to ten year loans provide an extended payback period and apply to the properties they benefit rather than the borrower.

Now, a new countywide stimulus funded program, EnergySmart@Work, is offering REBATE incentives to all loan funded projects.  Rebates will be available for up to 70% of the cost of the project with a cap of $10,000. Find out more by contacting EnergySmart@Work at 303-441-1300.

ClimateSmart Loan Program delayed – just in from Boulder County:

We just received some communications from federal banking regulators and new requirements from the Department of Energy that affect the ClimateSmart Loan Program and similar programs across the country.  One impact of the Department of Energy requirements is that the ClimateSmart Loan Program will be required to abide by new national guidelines.  In order to make sure that we are in compliance with these new guidelines, it is necessary to delay our loan application process for 60 days.  This means that our application process will be put on hold until late July. During this period, we are keeping our online application open to allow residents to continue to apply for loans.

We greatly apologize for this inconvenience, as we know you have worked hard to be able to participate in this program.  We will also be extending this message to local contractors, and would appreciate your helping us get the word out by informing your contractor(s) of this delay.

We will contact you as soon as we know how these guidelines will impact the program.  We will also continue to update our website with the latest information at ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org.

Interested in Boulder’s ClimateSmart Loan Program?  A new round of ClimateSmart Loan workshops have been scheduled:

Boulder County residential property owners will be eligible to apply for a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures though the ClimateSmart Loan Program. Invest in improvements that will save energy, reduce your utility bills, increase home comfort and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

Required homeowner workshops* are now scheduled to start March 15 and run through April.

Register for a workshop today!  Please visit crc-climatesmartloan.wildapricot.org or call 303-999-3820 x226 to register for a workshop.

*If you have already attended a workshop, you will not be required to attend another one.

Please note:

~While energy audits are not required for this program, they are *highly* recommended, call 303-999-3820×226 to sign up for an energy audit.

~The online application will be available on our website ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org in mid-April.

ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org

From the Boulder County ClimateSmart Loan Program:

• Boulder County commercial property owners are eligible to apply for a  wide range of energy efficiency & renewable energy measures.
• Invest in improvements that will save energy, reduce your utility bills and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
• Repay loans through a special assessment on your property.

Attend one of our informational sessions this week!

• Thursday, Jan 21^st 8:00am-9:00am in Boulder
• 3rd floor of the Boulder County Courthouse 1325 Pearl St. Boulder CO 80302
• Friday, Jan. 22^nd 3:30pm-4:30pm in Longmont
• Longmont Civic Center 350 Kimbark St. Longmont CO 80501

Find out more information online at www.ClimateSmartLoanProgram.org

ClimateSmart Neighborhood Energy Sweeps is currently seeking volunteers:

Energy Sweeps Volunteers Needed

Longs Peak Energy Conservation (a division of Boulder County Housing), and the cities of
Boulder and Longmont have planned Energy Sweeps and need your help.  We’re looking for
community minded individuals who have an interest in residential energy efficiency and a
desire to help reduce the utility expenses and carbon emissions of fellow residents.

With the rising cost of energy having a disproportional affect on fixed and lower income
families and with a determination by local government to curtail the green house gases
emitted within their jurisdictions, the Energy Sweep is a program whose objective seeks
to address both issues.

On September 26th in Longmont, and in Boulder on October 10th and 17th, volunteers are
needed to canvass pre-selected low to moderate income neighborhoods in teams installing
energy saving devices like compact fluorescent light bulbs, and to converse with families on
alternatives to costly and inefficient home energy practices.  No experience is necessary,
but a mandatory 2-hour training is required (dates and location TBD).

Volunteer Benefits: Energy Sweeps T-shirt, breakfast and lunch, volunteer recognition
gifts, and the knowledge that you are making a REAL contribution to someone’s wellbeing
while helping to make your community more environmentally sustainable!

Volunteer sign ups are welcomed until teams are filled.  Minimum age: 15.
Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) volunteers are especially needed.

SWEEPS TIMES AND LOCATIONS:
Longmont: Midtown (19th-15th Ave. & Kimbark – Meadow), September 26th, 2009
Boulder: Arborwood Condos (3250 O’Neal Cir.), October 10th, 2009.
Orchard Grove Mobile Home Park (3003 Valmont), October 17th, 2009

Tentative start and end times: 9:00a.m. – 2 p.m.

For more information or to volunteer contact:
Dave Hatchimonji
Energy Sweeps Coordinator, Longs Peak Energy Conservation
Email: energysweeps@bouldercounty.org
(303) 441-3912