From Northern Colorado Renewable Energy Society
Current News and Events:
Special Event! NCRES is Hosting the April GreenDrinks
Tuesday April 12th, 7:00 pm
Rock Mountain Innosphere
320 E Vine St
Fort Collins, CO 80521
***Win a full conference pass to CREC 2011. Sign up to be a CRES member at this event and enter to win, if you are already a member bring your membership card and you can also enter***
NCRES is hosting this month's Green Drinks. Come check it out.Home energy efficiency is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to make a big impact on your total energy consumption and save money on your utility bill, but figuring out what is right for you and your home can be daunting.
This event will cover:
- Why home energy efficiency is valuable
- How you can get started· Where to find resources and rebates
- How a home energy audit can help you plan your upgrades
In order to comply with local liquor laws this will be classified as a private event, which means that you MUST RSVP. Thank you.
Please RSVP on the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free and open to the public, however please consider a $5 donation. Thank you.
May: How Feed in Tariffs can Enable Renewables
Tuesday May 10th, 7:00 pm
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Summary
Feed in Tariffs are a way of financing renewable energy projects used sucessfully in Europe to help drive adoption and drive costs toward grid parity.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for NCRES members. We ask non-members for a $5 donation. Thank you.
Future News and Events:
Tuesday, June 14, 7:00 pm: Lucent Technologies - The Future of the Grid
Tuesday, July 12, 7:00 pm: Colorado Carbon Fund and Grill Out
Past News and Events:
April: Avago Technologies - Industrial Opportunities for Energy Reduction
Tuesday April 12th, 7:00 pm
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Summary
Steve Wolley, Workplace Services Manager at Avago Technologies, will share the successes that he has had implementing energy efficiency initiatives at Avago's Fort Collins facilities. Through these upgrades Steve has been able to achieve and document a significant reduction in the utility costs of running the facility, ultimatly improving the plant's bottom line. These successes have allowed Steve to build a wider acceptance of the imprtance of energy efficiency measures both with the manufacturing teams and with upper management.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for NCRES members. We ask non-members for a $5 donation. Thank you.
March: Skyfuel - Concentrating Solar Power
Tuesday March 8th, 7:00 pm
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
About SkyFuel
SkyFuel, Inc. is a solar thermal power technology and service provider founded in 2007. SkyFuel solar collectors harness solar radiation to produce steam for electricity generation and industrial applications. The Company is a leading supplier of utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. SkyFuel currently offers an advanced, glass-free parabolic trough solar thermal collector, called the SkyTrough®. It is the highest performance, lowest-cost utility-scale solar power system in the world.
What is Concentrating Solar?
Utility-grade Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) systems collect and concentrate solar radiation then use that heat to produce steam for generating electricity. All CSP systems use a collector with a highly reflective surface usually consisting of curved mirrors and/or many angled flat mirrors (to approximate curvature) which reflect and focus the solar radiation onto an absorber, also called a receiver. Running through the receiver is a heat transfer medium (usually a fluid) which in a CSP electricity generating plant transmits the thermal energy from the collectors to a steam generator. The steam is then used to drive a conventional turbine to generate electricity.
About the Presenter
Alison Mason earned her Master’s degree in Solar Thermal Engineering at Colorado State University, in 1993. She has worked in passive solar, solar thermal, and photovoltaics as researcher, advocate, educator, designer, and installer.
Alison was recognized in 2004 by the American Solar Energy Society with the first ever “Women in Solar Energy” (WISE) award and her work has been featured by the Worldwatch Institute Journal and CNN International.
Alison is now Director of Marketing Communications for SkyFuel, Inc.
This event is free for NCRES members. We ask non-members for a $5 donation. Thank you.
February: Rocky Mountain Innosphere Tour
Tuesday February 8th, 7:00 pm
Rock Mountain Innosphere
320 E Vine St
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Make sure to RSVP!
It looks like we will be able to get a keg from Odells for this event which means that in order to comply with local liquor laws this will be classified as a private event, which means that you MUST RSVP. Thank you.
Please RSVP at the NCRES Meetup site HERE:
Presentation and Tour
The originally scheduled Feed-in Tariff presentation has been postponed, however we have the opportunity to tour a first class facility the incorporates a number of green building concepts and energy efficiency technologies.
Building highlights include:
• LEED Gold certified
• Abound Solar PV rooftop and carport systems
• Natural lighting throughout the building
• Energy-efficient heating/cooling/lighting systems
About Rocky Mountain Innosphere
Rocky Mountain Innosphere works to ignite the innovation economy in Northern Colorado and develop the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. They provide high-potential innovation-based startups with facilities, access to a network of seasoned mentors and advisors, hands on support services, business connections, networking opportunities and education
This event is free for NCRES members. We ask the non-members consider a $5 donation. Thank you.
January Presentation: Ascent Solar
Tuesday January 11, 7:00 pm
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Ascent Solar manufactures thin-film photovoltaic collectors on a plastic substrate enabling them to be extremely flexible and lightweight. Their technology is used in a wide range of product applications, including roofing surfaces for buildings, portable electronic products, defense applications, space solutions, vehicles and more.
Presenter Bio:
Rafael E. Gutierrez - Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing: Immediately prior to joining Ascent Solar, Mr. Gutierrez was General Manager of Consumer Electronics in Seagate Technology's Consumer Solutions Division. Mr. Gutierrez worked at Seagate Technology for over 18 years, where he held executive positions in Corporate Strategy, Strategic Marketing, Advanced Concepts, and Product Development.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for members and $5 for non-members
Holiday Party and Board Elections
Tuesday December 14, 7:00 pm
The tap room has switched to winter hours; please note the different time
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Its time for the annual NCRES holiday party where we share a pint, conversation some food and even a raffle. Join us to celebrate the end of a great year and lets talk about what next year has in store. We also look forward to refreshing our board- so if you have an interest in being in the center of action in making renewables and efficiency mainstream NCRES is the place for you. We are looking forward to what could be our most exciting year in Northern Colorado and we cant do it with out you. The party is also a great place of meet like minded folks.
If you or anyone you know is interested in serving on the NCRES board you can submit your nomination to Board@ncres.org.
We hope to see you there and wish you a happy holiday season
Solar Thermal: The other solar power
Tuesday November 9, Presentation 7:00 pm
The tap room is switching to its winter hours; please note the different time
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Justin and Kelly from Hydronic Specialists will give their insights into the great benefits of solar thermal technologies. Often playing second fiddle to solar electric, solar thermal systems are now very cost effective and utilize state-of-the-art equipment. They design their systems to get the highest efficiency available from the equipment installed including-- Solar water heating systems, Solar/boiler in-floor radiant heating and water heating, Solar/Geo-thermal/boiler in-floor radiant heating and water heating, solar panel space heating using panel radiators, etc. They will also talk about the tremendous cost savings benefits of solar thermal and the advancement of the technology.
Here is a great walk through by Kelly of one of our 2010 solar tour home's system that Hydronic Specialists installed.
Ground source heat pump hydronic cooling and heating with solar assist
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for members and $5 for non-members
Brewing Energy Efficiency with Doug Odell
Tuesday October 12, Presentation 8:00 pm
Please note the new time
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Doug will be talking about the sustainable design practices that went into the recent expansion of the Odell brew house including energy efficiency upgrades, renewable energy and lessons learned.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for members and $5 for non-members
12th Annual Northern Colorado Solar Tour
Saturday, October 2, 2010, 10 AM to 4 PM
The year’s self-guide tour features newly constructed homes and residential retrofits with passive and active solar design, ground-source heat pumps, state-of-the-art mechanical systems, and much more. It also includes a short walking tour of CSU’s 2 MW solar farm just west of Ft. Collins.
This tour is part of an international solar tour event that includes all 50 states, Mexico, and the Virgin Island (see http://nationalsolartour.org).
See the NCRES Solar Tour video at:
Video
Purchase guidebooks for $5 at:
How Changes in Energy and Transportation Paradigms can Reduce Climate Change
Tuesday September 14, Presentation 8:00 pm
Please note the new time
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Dr Scott Denning of CSU's Atmospheric Sciences Department will be discussing the impacts that changes to the energy and transportation sector can have on reducing current climate change trends.
Dr Scott Denning
Professor Denning's research interests include interactions between the atmosphere and terrestrial biosphere and their effects on exchange of energy, water, and carbon dioxide. His research group studies these interactions through numerical simulation modeling at local, regional, and global scales.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
This event is free for members and $5 for non-members
Power Mundo: Improving Lives and Conserving Nature in Latin America
Tuesday August 10, Presentation 8:00 pm
Please note the new time
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
PowerMundo improves access to solar and other clean technologies to empower improverished people in emerging markets. Through an innovative distribution and financial model PowerMundo improve's peoples lives, creates local employment opportunities, and conserves natural resources.
Summer Local Business Series - July: Spirae Inc.
Tuesday July 13, Socializing 7:00p Event 7:30p
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Since 2001 Spirae has been focused on developing solutions for large-scale integration of renewables, DG, and demand response into a seamless system that works for system operators, utilities, and end users.
Jeff Harrell and Nathan Howard will provide a basic introduction to Smart Grid concepts and discuss the current trends in this emerging industry. An overview of Spirae’s activities as a leader in the Smart Grid space will also be provided including an update on the Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) project that is providing a jump start to FortZED.
Jeff Harrell serves as Spirae's Director of Sales and Marketing. Jeff brings fourteen years of global experience with early to mid-stage technologies, at both start-ups and large corporations, including Nortel Networks and Agilent Technologies.
Nathan Howard currently is involved with Spirae as an engineer and project manager for the RDSI project. Nathan has worked with Spirae in various capacities since 2006 when he started as a graduate research assistant. Nathan is also a member of the NCRES board of directors.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
Summer Local Business Series - June: The Brendle Group
Tuesday June 8, Socializing 7:00p Event 7:30p
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
The Brendle group provides environmental consulting services to help businesses and organizations find ways to incorporate the principles of the triple bottom line into their day to day operations.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
Summer Local Business Series - May: Sovick Design/Builders
Tuesday May 11, Socializing 7:00p Event 7:30p
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
The first in our local buisness series, Sovick Design/Builders have been creating energy conserving, Green-built, high quality homes in Northern Colorado for over thirty years.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
The Future of Colorado Renewable Energy Society
Presentation by Tony Frank, Executive Director of CRES
Tuesday April 13, Socializing 7:00p Event 7:30p
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Recently CRES hired a full time executive director, Tony Frank, to help guide the organization in the pursuit of its mission. We have invited Tony to speak to us about the how he sees the future of CRES/NCRES and to give our members an opportunity to provide input on issues important to NCRES and the direction we see for our region.
Presenter Bio
Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado's Graduate School of Public Affairs. He is a third-generation Coloradan from Denver with family roots in the mining towns of Telluride and Leadville.
Prior to joining CRES, he was Manager of Development for Compass Wind, and Director of Renewable Energy Development for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). At RMFU, he led renewable energy programs to support agriculture producers develop projects for such resources as wind, solar, small-hydro, biofuels, carbon sequestration and energy efficiency technologies. He recently served on the Colorado Task Force on Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
CRES HIRES TONY FRANK AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Seasoned renewable energy policy veteran joins team to further solidify CRES as Colorado’s Renewable Energy Resource
DENVER―March 22, 2010―The Colorado Renewable Energy Society today announced that Tony Frank has joined the nonprofit organization as its new Executive Director. The CRES Board of Directors selected Frank from more than 80 applicants. Sheila Townsend, former executive director, will remain with CRES as Operations Director.Frank brings extensive experience in renewable energy policy to CRES and has been involved in projects in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico since 2004. Prior to joining CRES, he was Manager of Development for Compass Wind, and Director of Renewable Energy Development for Rocky Mountain Farmers Union (RMFU). At RMFU, he led renewable energy programs to support agriculture producers develop projects for such resources as wind, solar, small-hydro, biofuels, carbon sequestration and energy efficiency technologies. He recently served on the Colorado Task Force on Renewable Resource Generation Development Areas.
On taking the CRES Executive Director position Frank said, “I am pleased to join CRES, with its talented and passionate membership committed to advancing renewable energy and efficiency projects throughout Colorado. I look forward to reaching out and supporting the many communities and organizations that are pursuing economic development through clean energy innovation.”
“Tony’s expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy policy, plus his background in project management and development, make him the ideal fit for CRES as we solidify ourselves as Colorado’s resource for renewable energy information,” said Thom Johnson, CRES president. “As we continue our efforts to increase renewable energy initiatives and awareness in Colorado, I am confident that Tony will play an instrumental role in our strategy and implementation.”
Frank has also worked for Colorado Working Landscapes (where he established a rural network for renewable energy called the Harvesting Energy Network); Rocky Mountain Communities (where he established community technology centers serving affordable housing communities); and the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Frank earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado's Graduate School of Public Affairs. He is a third-generation Coloradan from Denver with family roots in the mining towns of Telluride and Leadville.
CRES March Webcast: Colorado Transmission Update
Thursday March 25, 7:00p
Lory Student Center - Room 210
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Presentation Summary
Colorado is rich in renewable energy resources. However, delivering green electrons to the grid is limited by Colorado's constrained, aging, and under-sized transmission infrastructure. Without a robust high-voltage transmission system, the scale-up of Colorado’s utility-scale renewable energy projects will limit the penetration of renewable energy in the electricity sector. Join CRES for a summary of the Governor's Energy Office's recently-released REDI Report- “Renewable Energy Development Infrastructure: Connecting Colorado's Renewable Resources to the Markets in a Carbon-Constrained Electricity Sector.”
Presenter Bio
Morey Wolfson is the Transmission Program Manager at the Governor's Energy Office. Some highlights of his experience include: organizer of Denver's Earth Day event in 1970; Executive Assistant to the Commissioners at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, member of NREL's Federal Energy Management Program Team, member of the CRES Board of Directors, Amendment 37 campaigner, Solar Program Manager for the Colorado Energy Science Center, and sustainability consultant to David Owen Tryba Architects.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
March Presentation: CSU's School of Global Environmental Sustainability
Tuesday March 9, Socializing 7:00p Event 7:30p
Odell Brewery
800 E. Lincoln Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
A first for the state, the School of Global Environmental Sustainability is an umbrella organization that encompasses all environmental education and research at the university.
Addressing global challenges
The school will position CSU to address the multiple challenges to global sustainability through broad-based research, curricular, and outreach initiatives. Areas of emphasis will include food security, poverty, inequality, water management strategies and desertification, globalization, industrial ecology, sustainable engineering, population growth, and urbanization.
This approach will capitalize on the University's historic strength in environmental research and education, and will build upon the education and research that already exists within all eight colleges on campus; from the Warner College of Natural Resources to the College of Business.
Please RSVP to the NCRES Meetup Group HERE:
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