|| Renewable Energy

Colorado is home to many of the nation’s top experts and organizations for renewable energy, including a couple in Summit County - Eric Westerhof with Innovative Energy and Richard Graves with Heatmeister.  With all of these experts so close by, conducting research right in our backyard and offering their services to all of us, you have to wonder why Colorado?  Well perhaps it is the fact that the state is blessed with lots of sun and wind, providing the perfect laboratory for renewable energy.  And with all of the natural resources on-hand and experts here to help, why not take advantage of both? 

There are many types of renewable energy.  At High Country Conservation Center we focus primarily on solar and wind energies with additional information and awareness programs for geothermal and biofuels.  Below we have briefly described each of the major types of renewable energy. 

For guidance in any of these subjects please contact our office or contact Eric Westerhof at Innovative Energy for more information and technical assistance. 

Download Innovative Energy's renewable energy presentation on Photovoltaics in Colorado's Central Rocky Mountains by clicking here.

970-453-5384
1760 Airport Rd, Breckenridge
PO Box 6538, Breckenridge, CO 80424
www.renewablepower.com
innovate@colorado.net

Hydropower also called hydroelectric power, is taken from the energy that flowing or falling water creates, which is captured (usually with a dam) and turned into electricity.  Currently hydroelectric power generates about 10% of the nation's energy. 

Geothermal energy is simply the heat from the earth and there are many technologies that take advantage of this renewable resource. 

Biomass energy, also known as “bioenergy,” is perhaps the oldest form of energy used by humans.  It is the energy from plants and plant-derived materials.  Wood is still the largest biomass energy resource today, but other sources of biomass include food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes.

Biodiesel, a form of biomass energy,can be created from waste grease (commonly collected at restaurants) or straight from the plant, often soybeans or other beans and grains.  Biodiesel can be used in a conventional diesel engine with typically no modifications made to the engine.  Using biodiesel over conventional fuels substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.

Solar energy is a term covering a wide variety of technologies including: 

Passive solar heating and daylighting — uses no mechanical means and yet can reduce heating bills by as much as 50%. 

Buildings designed for passive solar and daylighting incorporate design features such as large south-facing windows and building materials that absorb and slowly release the sun's heat, such as trombe walls. Passive solar designs can also include natural ventilation for cooling.

According to Solar Energy International, a one kilowatt PV system in Colorado producing 150 kWh each month has the following benefits:

Solar hot water — Heats water with solar energy.

Solar Hot Water panels are the most cost-effective way to harvest the sun's energy. Research shows that an average household with an electric water heater spends about 25% of its home energy costs on heating water.  Solar water heaters can create savings as much as 50% to 85% annually over the cost of electric water heating.  You can expect a simple payback of 4 to 8 years on a well-designed and properly installed solar water heater.

How do they work?  Solar hot water systems capture the sun's heat in rooftop solar collectors. Pipes channel that heat from the collectors to a solar storage tank, where cold water is preheated on its way to the hot water heater. Since the storage tank stays hot, it works even after the sun goes down.

Solar water heaters do not pollute. By investing in one, you will be avoiding carbon dioxide, nitrogen xides, sulfur dioxide, and the other air pollution and wastes created when your utility generates power or you burn fuel to heat your household water. In fact, when a solar water heater replaces an electric water heater, the electricity displaced over 20 years represents more than 50 tons of avoided carbon dioxide emissions alone. 

The Heatmeister is a long-standing local company dedicated to providing high efficiency solutions for your hydronic heating systems. Specializing in solar hot water systems and high efficiency boilers, Summit County is fortunate to have the Heatmeister in our community. Richard Graves, the Heatmeister, brings Europe’s leading technology to Summit County to help us reach our goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Contact the Heatmeister:
P.O. Box 3202
Dillon CO 80435
Phone: 970-513-0697
heatmeister@comcast.net

Wind energy uses the energy in the wind to generate electricity, charge batteries, pump water and more.

Large, modern wind turbines operate together in wind farms to produce electricity for utilities. Small turbines are used by homeowners and remote villages to help meet energy needs.

 According to Solar Energy International, using 100 kWh of wind power each month is equivalent to:

Wind power has the potential to supply approximately 20% of the U.S. electricity demand at an economical price as costs have dropped by 85% during the last 20 years. Incentives like the federal production tax credit and net metering provisions available in some areas have contributed to this decrease in costs. 

Renewable Energy Resources

Much of the information on this page was adapted from information provided by the following sources- we encourage you to visit their sites for more details: 

National Renewable Energy Lab

Community Office of Resource Efficiency

Solar Energy International

Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association

US Dept of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

Biodiesel specific information

Blue Sun (a national biodiesel company based in Colorado, supporting Colorado farmers)

National Biodiesel Board

BiodieselNOW.com

Veggie oil information

Summit GreaseCycling LLC
Dara Lor
summitgreasecycling@gmail.com
P.O. Box 7123
Breckenridge, CO 80424
(301) 367-9245