2012 Earth Day Activities

Earth Day is Sunday April 22nd. The City of Fort Collins, Colorado State University, local businesses and the NRRC government campus are hosting events from Wednesday April 18th through Wednesday April 25th. City and CSU events include bike tours, film fests and a tree planting event at the CSU Oval.

Earth Day events at the NRRC campus include:

• No Impact Man, a 90 minute 2009 documentary on sustainable living is being shown on Monday, April 23rd at noon at NRRC, Bldg D (employees from other NRRC buildings are welcome!)
• NRRC-A’s Power IT Down day is today, April 20th through Sunday April 22nd. Practice changing your energy habits and power down (or hibernate) your computer, monitor and printers before you leave for the weekend.
• A new Kill-A-Watt electricity usage monitor is available for loan. Sign it out from the NRRC-A Green Team and check the electricity consumption of appliances in your office and home.
• A Cupcake Sale will be held on Wednesday April 25th from 11:00 – 1:00 in Building A’s lobby. Proceeds will be used for bike-to-work day breakfast station food and supplies and for People’s Orchard supplies.

Water Smart Landscaping

Last week I attended a meeting sponsored by the City of Ft. Collins on water smart landscaping. The first speaker was Dr. Jean Reeder and she spoke about the importance of knowing your soils and the relationship between moisture and clay, silt, and sand. The next speaker was Dr. David Whiting and he discussed hydrozoning (using similar plants with similar watering needs in the same zone or area). This concept could be used at this building. Also he discussed the amount of overwatering that occurs here in Ft. Collins – all in the interest of having a green lawn. The third speaker was Brent Jeffrey of AECOM and discussed some of the technologies available for smart watering (SWAT – Smart Water Application technologies). Next year there may be a business incentive to implement SWAT. Finally, I talked to Eric Olson of the City. He stopped by our building afterwards. He agreed to meet with us next spring and review where we could implement some water conservation techniques on the campus.

2010 Business Environmental Program Series

At the City of Fort Collins’ Business Environmental Program Series (BEPS), learn about City services and programs, best practices and new technologies – many of which offer conservation and cost-saving opportunities for your business.

• Time: Tuesdays from 9 a.m. – noon
• Location: Café Columbine and Bakery, 802 W. Drake Rd., Suite 101
• Cost: Free
• RSVP: Email Fort Collins Utilities or call (970) 221-6700