Green Building
Greening Your Home
Energy Efficiency Guide
A new Energy Efficiency Guide for your Golden home will soon be available to help you save energy, and money. This handy pocket guide will take you through easy steps to make incremental changes to maximize your energy efficiency. The guide will offer simple steps such as caulk and insulation, as well as information for big aspirations to make a Net Zero Energy home.
The Guide will feature two paths toward energy efficiency: a do-it-yourself track and a contractor path, with helpful hints to guide you through the process. The guide will be available in January 2012.
Net Zero Report
A study in achieving Net Zero Energy for your home is now complete. See what the average Golden home consumes and why only 10% of Golden homes are ideally suited for solar in the Net Zero Report (pdf)
Tax Breaks
2011 Federal Tax Credits for Homeowners (pdf) are available to help reduce your costs. Thinking about remodeling your home? Need a new furnace, water heater, doors or windows? How about extra insulation to save on your monthly utility bills?
In addition, the State of Colorado has created a rebate program for the same improvements and also includes cash for replacing your old appliances. Visit Recharge Colorado for more information on the program.
LEED for City Buildings
In 2008, City Council passed Resolution No. 1937 (pdf), which set a baseline for municipal buildings to achieve. The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designation sets a target for all new city buildings and remodeling projects over 5,000 square feet.
