ZGreen News - City of Aspen, Colorado

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C i t y o f A s p e n · C a n a r y I n i t i at i v e · E n v i r o n m e n ta l h e a lt h

August 2010 · Vol. 03 · Issue 8

Driving Efficiency Month August is driving efficiency month in Aspen. Stop by the Environmental Health Department to pick up a free tire pressure gauge on the second floor of City Hall. Having your tires properly inflated will save you money on gas and help your tires to last longer.

Aspen tap water, the clear choice Next time you quench your thirst, take advantage of free Aspen tap water, some of the purest water available in the country. Many people think that drinking bottled water instead of local tap water is better for their health, but research shows that while tap water is regularly monitored and tested, that is not always the case with bottled water. Aspen is lucky to get our water from Castle and Maroon Creeks. These mountain streams originate in the White River National Forest

within designated wilderness areas, which means we are fortunate enough to be the first recipients of such pristine water. Aspen’s water is tested daily in certified laboratories, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations require that the City of Aspen water department publish a yearly report showing test results and instances of contamination. For a copy of the report, click here. (Continued on page 2.)

Green cooling tips Air conditioners not essential in the high country Remember Aspen before the air conditioner? People opened their windows at night. Stores opened their doors not just to attract customers but to bring in the fresh mountain air. People visiting Aspen came to cool down with hikes in the mountains, playing at the Grottos and finding snow in summer. But times are changing, and it’s more common to see homes with air conditioners in Aspen. Remember that AC isn’t always the best answer to a hot day. Air conditioners are responsible

for around 25 percent of noise complaints from neighbors, and for some people, the overuse of AC can cause sinus problems or increase susceptibility to colds. Keeping our houses cool with air conditioners costs Americans about $11 billion a year. The average air conditioner releases about two tons of carbon dioxide into the air annually per home. Every degree below 78ºF on your thermostat increases your air conditioning cost by 3 to 4 percent. (Continued on page 2.)

for more information: Click on a globe or any website address to go directly to the links!

And remember: the City’s no idling ordinance is in effect year round. Summer is when ozone levels are typically at their highest, and idling vehicles contribute to making that problem even worse. Spare our air, and turn off your engine when you aren’t driving.

Eat Local

tour the farmers markets of the valley This summer, take advantage of the many options to buy locally grown organic food and flowers. Aspen Saturdays through September Basalt Sundays through October Carbondale Wednesdays through September Glenwood Springs, Downtown Tuesdays through September Glenwood Springs, Rite Aid parking lot Saturdays through September

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Events Calendar

August 12 · 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm FREE: Maroon Creek Wetlands Walk Aspen Golf Club The Roaring Fork Conservancy, City of Aspen Open Space Program and Aspen Youth Conservation Corps will offer a naturalist walk below the Maroon Creek Bridge in the Maroon Wetlands. Event is underwritten by City of Aspen Open Space Program. Registration required: www.roaringfork.org/events. Please call 970-927-1290 with questions.

August 12 · 3:00 pm - 8 :00 pm Free Energy Star Expo & Grill-Off Styles Kitchen and Bath Studio, Basalt

For more information: Contact the departments and programs that have taken the lead in protecting Aspen’s environment and our quality of life. Canary Initiative: [email protected] · www.aspenglobalwarming.com

Aspen Canary Initiative

Aspen Canary

Aspen ZGreen: [email protected] · www.aspenzgreen.com

Aspen ZGreen

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Utilities Energy Efficiency: [email protected]

www.aspenpitkin.com/energyefficiency

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Utilities renewable energy: [email protected] www.aspenpitkin.com/departments/utilities/renewables Environmental Health: [email protected] www.aspenpitkin.com/departments/environmental-health

Join the City of Aspen Energy Efficiency team, Styles Kitchen & Bath Studio and the Roaring Fork ENERGY STAR Partners for a Demo and Did you know in summer, Aspen’s temperature Grill-Off Competition. Enjoy favorites prepared drops down to 50ºF or below at night? by Kitchen Aid, Dacor, Viking, TEC, and Napoleon chefs. Seminars on water conservation, efficient appliances and LED Lighting; silent auction, 2 giveaways, organic farm stand and live music. Continued from page 1. Complimentary food and drink. RSVP: 970-927-2770.

Aspen Tap H O

August 19 - 22 American Renewable Energy Day Aspen AREDAY returns to Aspen with a long list of renowned renewable energy leaders, including Ted Turner, James Cameron, General Wesley Clark and Lester Brown. For details, visit www.areday.net.

August 19 · 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm River Ecology and Fishing Rock Bottom Ranch Join local expert Steve Ellsperman for a special ecology tour through Rock Bottom Ranch out to the Roaring Fork River. The evening concludes with fly or spin fishing. Bring your own gear! More information is available at www.aspennature.org.

On-Going, Various Dates Volunteer Trail Crew Valleywide Help improve trails throughout the valley. For more information, visit www.rfov.org.

Ongoing, Thursdays · 6:00 am - 9:00 am ACES Morning Birding Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Join an ACES naturalist to discover the abundant bird life of Aspen. Bring your own binoculars and bird guidebooks if you have them. $15 members, $20 non-members. Register at: www.aspennature.org.

AspenZGreen

In contrast, bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is categorized as a food. Because of this distinction, the FDA cannot require lab tests or regular reports from bottled water companies. Consumers have no way of knowing where bottled water originates or what the water contains.

Green Cooling Continued from page 1. ZGreen is here to remind you that there are other green cooling options: In the Kitchen: Eat cold meals like salads and sandwiches · Cook on an outdoor grill · Use the microwave instead of the stove · Use the dishwasher at night and turn the drying cycle off. Laundry: Hang out your clothes to dry ·

Use the dryer at night · Wear clothes made from natural fabrics.

Bottled water may be appropriate in locations where the quality of tap water is low, but in a place with tap water that is safe and clean, like Aspen, bottled water only produces unnecessary waste and requires large amounts of energy to produce. The U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of bottled water, consuming 7 billion gallons a year. On average, only about 20 percent of plastic bottles from bottled water are recycled, sending the rest to landfills and to the oceans and rivers, where they contaminate aquatic ecosystems.

Water Temperature: Turn the water heater down to 120ºF · Cool down with a cold shower.

Forty percent of bottled water is actually tap water that is packaged and shipped to consumers. This energy-intensive process can be avoided by using a reusable water bottle and refilling it throughout the day. Save money and reduce waste by choosing Aspen tap over bottled water.

Air Conditioners: Consider an evaporative cooler as an energy saving alternative · Set your programmable thermostat to 78ºF when you’re home and off when you’re out · Don’t air condition unused rooms · Upgrade central A/C systems with new, high-efficiency compressors · Regularly maintain your air conditioner.

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Ventilation: Bring in the cool air at night with fans · Close up the house during the day · Use ceiling fans · Make sure your fan is spinning clockwise to create a wind-chill effect. Shade: Install shades or mini-blinds,

which will reduce solar heat gain up to 40-50% · Close south- and west-facing curtains during the day.