Join Clean Energy Action Citizen Power for the next event in its Global Warming Solutions series:

Thursday, January 14, 2010

New one-time location!
Unity Church
2855 Folsom Street, Boulder, CO 80304

Time: 6:30-7:00 Social Hour
7:00-8:30pm Presentation

This presentation is a unique and timely opportunity to learn about the process and options that cities face when negotiating with large-scale energy providers. With franchise renewal set for summer of 2010, Boulder is in the process of negotiating an energy supply commitment with Xcel Energy. Come and become informed about how cities do long-term energy planning, about the time commitment considerations for Boulder’s next franchise agreement, and about options for choice in Boulder’s energy sources. Ms. Perkins will focus on the inherent responsibility of Colorado cities to provide energy as a vital service and to respond to the moral, financial and social imperatives associated with carbon emissions.

About the speaker

Susan Perkins has spent 34 years as an energy lawyer with an exclusive focus for four years on sustainable and renewable energy. Representing distributed solar and utility-scale solar and wind clients, participating in energy policy dockets at the Public Utilities Commission, and representing cities in the negotiation of their franchise agreements, Ms. Perkins is a strong advocate for systemic thinking and long-range planning for energy policy.

ATTORNEYS PLEASE NOTE: An application will be filed at the Colorado Supreme Court for 1.0 hour of Continuing Legal Education Credit (CLE) for this program.

For more information, contact Andy Lenec or visit
www.cleanenergyaction.org
Copyright© 2009 Clean Energy Action

Are you planning to submit for permit in the City of Boulder before the new Compatible Development Ordinance goes into effect on January 3rd?

Populus Sustainable Design Consulting is commited to meeting all of our clients’ end-of-year HERS rating needs.  If you are working on a project that will need a HERS rating before year end – please contact us as soon as possible and we will put you on the schedule so we can meet your deadlines.  Keep in mind that Populus can streamline your code compliance by performing the required ACCA Manual J and D calculations – just let us know that you would like this service in addition to a HERS Rating.

You can contact Populus Sustainable Design Consulting for a proposal at 303-325-7650.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and municipal energy code consulting.  In addition, Populus offers an Energy Code Workshop for architects and municipalities, as well as LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.

45 days ago, the City of Boulder passed its Compatible Development Ordinance (previously “Pops and Scrapes” or “FAR”).  To learn more about the ordinance, please check out our previous blog article.  By our count, there are 45 days remaining until the ordinance goes into effect on January 3, 2010.  The City of Boulder will be closed for the holidays on January 3rd – making December 30, 2009 the last day that you can go in for permit before the Compatible Development Ordinance goes into effect.  If you are working on any projects that will need to go in for permit prior to January 3rd, please contact us and let us know so that we can assist you with a from-plans HERS rating and meet your scheduling needs.  You can contact Populus at 303-325-7650.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and municipal energy code consulting.  In addition, Populus offers an Energy Code Workshop for architects and municipalities, as well as LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.

Last night, the City of Boulder passed the Compatible Development Ordinance (formerly known as “pops and scrapes” or “FAR”), which is meant to limit house sizes in Boulder through a combination of measures. The Ordinance does not go into effect for 90 days, so any projects permitted within the next 90 days in Boulder will be exempt from the requirements of the Compatible Development Ordinance.

The Ordinance passed by a narrow margin, with a 4-3 vote, with the following council members voting in favor of the Ordinance: Matt Appelbaum, Macon Cowles, Crystal Gray and Lisa Morzel. Angelique Espinoza, Suzy Ageton and Ken Wilson voted against the Ordinance. Susan Osborne was absent.

The Compatible Development Ordinance applies to all residential zoning districts in the City of Boulder, affecting a total of about 13,000 houses. The final Ordinance restricts the floor-area ratio to .50 based on a 7,000 square foot lot located in zoning districts RR-1 and RL-1 and .55 for lots located in the RMX-1 zoning district.

Floor-area calculations for the purpose of the Ordinance will include basements based on the percentage of exposed perimeter walls that are more than 36 inches above grade. The Ordinance also includes a “virtual floor” component, which counts the floor area of spaces that are 16 feet or taller twice as much as the lowest level’s square footage and the floor area of spaces that are 26 feet or taller are counted three times as much as the lowest level square footage. The Ordinance exempts the first 150 square feet of stairwell from the calculations.

The Ordinance also limits building coverage on a sliding scale based on building coverage of 35% of lot area, with increased coverage allowed for smaller lots and decreased coverage for larger lots. The Ordinance exempts some porch areas from the building lot coverage calculations, including up to 300 square feet of front porch area and up to 150 square feet for back porch area. In addition, certain historic accessory structures are exempt from the calculations, through the Landmark Alteration Certificate.

The Ordinance will also place restrictions on the “bulk plane,” which is the conceptual 3-D envelope that a house could occupy.  In addition, it limits any sidewalls which are taller than 14 feet in height to 40 feet in length.

To implement the new Compatible Development Ordinance, there will be additional plan check fees to the City of Boulder, increasing the amount from 25% to 50% of the building permit fee.

Going in for permit on a project in Boulder? Populus Sustainable Design Consulting is your one-stop shop for complying with the energy efficiency requirements of Boulder’s Green Points program. In addition to home energy rating services (or “HERS rating”), Populus offers Green Points consulting and Manual D and J calculations. To learn more visit Populus Sustainable Design Consulting.

Shoes lined the sidewalk at the Logan Wiggins House on the Center for Resource Conservation’s Green & Solar Homes Tour last Saturday, September 26th in Boulder, Colorado.

A full house of shoeless visitors learn about zero energy homes and greenbuilding at the Logan Wiggins House

The tour was hosted by homeowners Jim Logan (of Jim Logan Architects) and Sherry Wiggins.  The home was sponsored on the CRC’s Solar & Green Home Tour by Populus Sustainable Design Consulting, who provided the energy modeling and LEED for Homes Green Rater services on the home.  The all-electric home, which goes beyond net zero and beyond carbon neutral, was inspired by Logan’s effort to reduce his carbon footprint to a level that would be sustainable for the planet.  With a negative HERS Index score, the Logan Wiggins Home generates enough additional electricity to charge a plug-in electric vehicle.

David Neiger of Populus explains the energy efficient features of this zero energy home

David Neiger of Populus spent the day in the jam-packed mechanical room explaining the high-performance and green features of this net zero Boulder home.  David taught visitors about building science and the workings of heat-recovery ventilation and ground source heat pumps, while Mike Vail of Water Legacy highlighted the home’s graywater system.

Erik Warner of Namaste Solar was also on-site during the tour, answering questions about the 9.9 kw photovoltaic array on the home.  Namaste Solar provided the grid-tied PV System for the home, while Aircraft installed the Earthlinked Technologies ground source heat pump.  The home also incorporates Serious Materials’ (formerly Alpen) triple pane double Heat Mirror windows.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.

Tomorrow, Boulder City Council will hold a hearing and second reading of the proposed Compatible Development Ordinance, which is aimed at restricting home sizes in Boulder.   If the ordinance passes at the City Council meeting tomorrow night, it is likely that there will be a sixty day window before the restrictions go into effect.  You can read more about the proposed restrictions and the public debate surrounding the issue in yesterday’s Daily Camera article.

Going in for permit on a project in Boulder or Boulder County?  Populus Sustainable Design Consulting is your one-stop shop for complying with the energy efficiency requirements of Boulder’s Green Points and Boulder County’s BuildSmart programs.  In addition to home energy rating services (or “HERS rating”), Populus offers Green Points consulting and Manual D and J calculations.   We offer client-focused services that put architects and builders in the driver’s seat.  To learn more visit Populus Sustainable Design Consulting.

Compleat Development recently completed construction of 2068 Alpine Drive, a luxury home in Boulder, Colorado’s Hillcrest Neighborhood.  Populus Sustainable Design Consulting provided green building consulting and energy modeling on the project to assist Compleat Development with the rigorous energy efficiency and green building requirements of the City of Boulder’s Green Points program.  The home is also certified in the EPA’s ENERGY STAR and Indoor Air Package programs.

Want to see the amazing views from the upstairs balcony?  Zachary Epps, a Boulder Realtor, recently completed a video profile of the home.  The home is currently offered for sale, with an open house scheduled for this Sunday, September 13th.

Populus is a full service sustainable design consulting firm that focuses on high performance, net-zero and near-net-zero custom residential and multi-family projects.  Populus guides architects and builders through the requirements of mandatory green building codes and optional green home certification programs, providing HERS rating, LEED for Homes Green Rater services and LEED for Homes training.  Visit Populus at www.popboulder.com.

Following Boulder’s proposed Compatible Development Ordinance?  A public hearing and second reading of Boulder’s proposed Compatible Development Ordinance will be held on Tuesday, September 15th at 5pm, City Council Chambers, 1777 Broadway, Boulder, CO.  To learn more about the status of this proposed ordinance and to review past meeting minutes, visit the City of Boulder’s site here.

Yesterday, the City of Boulder announced its Department of Community Planning and Sustainability.  This new department integrates the former Planning Department, Office of Environmental Affairs, Economic Vitality and Community Sustainability programs.  To learn more, see the City of Boulder’s Press Release:

BOULDER – The city of Boulder unveiled today its newly reorganized Department of Community Planning and Sustainability, which integrates the former Planning Department, Office of Environmental Affairs, Economic Vitality and Community Sustainability programs

The reorganization integrates the city’s economic, social and environmental sustainability efforts into ongoing planning practices.  The new organizational structure also creates efficiencies, streamlines communications between workgroups, and supports important community initiatives.

“The new Department of Community Planning and Sustainability will help advance Boulder’s regional and national role as a leader in sustainability planning and action,” said City Manager Jane Brautigam.  “Not only will this department serve to support our environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives in new and better ways, it will also improve our customer service and help advance critical community efforts.”

As stewards of the community’s built and natural environments, the department’s staff is working to foster more meaningful community partnerships to guide Boulder in achieving its comprehensive long-term sustainability goals, including promoting economic vitality by coordinating city services to Boulder businesses.

According to the City Manager’s Office, by reorganizing the city’s environmental action programs into neighborhood and business teams, the new organizational structure will create a heightened focus on working with community partners to design and deliver cost-effective programs that lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce solid waste. The new department will play a central role in helping the community achieve goals like the Climate Action Plan’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below1990 levels by the year 2012.

“For years, the City of Boulder has been talking about addressing the ‘three-legged stool’ of sustainability – meaning that we need to simultaneously promote economic, social and environmental health if we are to maintain a healthy and strong community,” said Executive Director of the Department of Community Planning and Sustainability David Driskell. “This reorganization effort was driven by our desire to take those sustainability efforts out of their silos where they had been isolated in individual workgroups, and sometimes resting with the responsibility of only one person.  We want to make sure they are a part of our everyday work practice, merging them with other work functions and creating teams with multiple specialties.”

The new department includes three divisions – Comprehensive Planning, Land Use Review and Local Environmental Action – as well as a new Regional Sustainability Coordinator and an Economic Vitality Coordinator in a newly formed Office of the Director.

No additional positions were necessary for the reorganization.  Instead, the city used targeted shifts of some existing positions and higher levels of cross-group teaming. Overall, the department’s staffing is being reduced by 2.33 positions.

“We are streamlining our structure so that we can provide high-quality customer service and ongoing, meaningful community engagement,” said Driskell.  “Programs like the CAP and zero waste efforts belong to the Boulder community.  We are setting ourselves up to be better facilitators and enablers of those community efforts.”

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