Garfield Clean Energy works toward future

When Red Mountain Inn owner Arthur Rothman wanted to do some upgrades to improve energy efficiency at his 40-unit lodge in West Glenwood, he turned to Garfield Clean Energy for help.

Now, thanks to energy rebates, special financing and other incentives offered through GCE, he has been able to add insulation to the heating and cooling system, began converting his outdoor lighting to LED fixtures and, most recently, replaced several refrigerators in his guest units with super-efficient Energy Star-rated appliances.

The savings in energy costs are just starting to pay off, but will be huge over the long run, Rothman said.

We have a lot of kitchen units, and when we started looking to upgrade we couldnt afford to do as many of the Energy Star refrigerators, he said. Working with Garfield Clean Energy really made the difference.

Rothman also obtained a free energy audit for his business and coaching that pointed him in the right direction to take advantage of the many incentives available to do the upgrades.

He is just one of the dozens of business owners and residents in Garfield County who benefit each year from GCEs efforts to make it easier for both the private and public sectors to become more energy efficient and tap clean energy.

The collaborative, formed in 2012 after about three years operating under a state grant, is funded by 10 partner governments. Those include Garfield County, the countys six municipalities, Colorado Mountain College, the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and the Garfield County Public Library District.

LONG-TERM FUNDING QUESTIONS

The GCE collaborative is pushing forward this year with a full slate of projects and programs aimed at helping businesses, residents and local governments.

Just this week, the town of Silt, working with GCE and its contract program manager, Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER), will dedicate a new 234-kilowatt solar electric array at the towns water treatment plant.

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Garfield Clean Energy works toward future