Ways to Save

Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency

May 21, 2013

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Resource Tip

Recycle

Click here to find out where and how you can recycle in Southwest Colorado.

Transportation

Alternative Fuel Resources

The Electric Ride from Project FEVER (Fostering Electric VehicleExpansion in the Rockies)

Ride Share Opportunities

Zimride.com - Zimride takes advantage of Facebook, enabling members to create personal profiles and select ride mates who share similar music tastes, favorite sports teams, or who just seem "normal."
GoLoco.org - Share rides to work, concerts, sporting events, or even the farmers' market using GoLoco. The company's web site utilizes Facebook's social networking platform, enabling users to create personal profiles and choose compatible riding companions.
Nuride.com - Nuride is an online ride sharing service with more than 28,000 members who receive reward points for sharing rides. The service operates just like an airline membership rewards program.
PickupPal.com - Combine your ride sharing trips with package delivery to earn a little extra cash on the way. Pickup Pal connects drivers, passengers, and packages heading in the same direction to consolidate trips and thus lower carbon greenhouse gas emissions.
RideAmigos.com - Connect with people going your way to share a taxicab or a car anywhere on Earth. Companies can use the service to help fellow employees coordinate trips together.
Shearling.com - Connect with fellow travelers looking to share a road trip using Shareling's interactive maps that show available rides around the globe. It's budget and planet-friendly.

Ways to Save

In these tough economic times, it is always good to know there are ways to economize and reduce spending. In addition to helping you tighten your belt, it is good to know these measures are helping to decrease our dependence on foreign oil, maintaining our high quality of life here in Southwest Colorado, and making the world a better place for our children.

Incentives to $ave

Federal Tax Credit

Energy Efficiency: Up to $500 for qualifying efficiency upgrades.
Renewables: 30% of the cost of the system for qualifying renewables installed after 2008 (no maximum).

Utility Rebates

La Plata Electric Customer Rebates: free electricity walk-through, LED light rebates, ENERGY STAR appliances, and more
Empire Electric Association: free energy audits, LED rebates (credits), ENERGY STAR appliances, and more
Source Gas and Atmos Energy: Excess is Out rebates for energy audits, insulation, appliances, furnaces, insulation, and more.

Efficiency Upgrade Loans

Energy Star Mortgage Program: one point interest rate discount up to $5,000 for upgrades to your home once you purchase
Power Saver Loan: borrow up to 100% of home value for upgrades

More incentives here

Other Resources

Save $ at Home

Eligibility-Based Home Weatherization Assistance
DIY Tutorials, from our sister organization Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) and the City of Aspen
“15 Green Projects for Under $500 by Green Home Guide, a branch of the U.S. Green Building Council
How Eight Homeowners Save Over $12,275 on Energy” by This Old House Magazine
The master Return-On-Investment (ROI) guide from GreenAndSave.com - a list of the potential monetary savings you can reap from the most common efficiency upgrades. Click on each item to see how they calculated the ROI.
The Profitability of Energy Efficiency Upgrades - See how making efficiency improvements will pay you back.

Free Stuff

Freecycle: Want free stuff? Want to share locally what you no longer use?