Fires, Floods, Snow extremes
Breaking news about Wild Land Fires & Floods and snow storms in the Boulder, Colorado area.
Boulder: emergency warning-signal season to begin
Mar 28th
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County and the City of Boulder will begin testing of the countywide emergency sirens at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 2. The test is the first of the annual season of monthly emergency siren tests, which take place on the first Monday of each month from April through August.
The siren tests will occur twice on each testing day, at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., on April 2, May 7, June 4, July 2 and Aug. 6.
Siren tests ensure that all systems and procedures are working properly during the season of peak flood danger. The tests also promote public awareness of the warning sirens located throughout Boulder County.
Should Boulder County experience severe weather during a one of the planned audible tests, the siren tests for that day may be cancelled. For updated information, visit www.BoulderOEM.com.
Residents are encouraged to review their own emergency preparedness plans and discuss what they would do in the event of a flash flood or other emergency. For more information about personal preparedness, visit www.readycolorado.com.
About the countywide alert system
Used to alert residents to potential danger from a flood or other immediate threat, there are more than 30 outdoor warning sirens in place across Boulder County, including in Boulder, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville (does not do audible testing), Lyons, Marshall, Eldorado Springs, Superior and the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Boulder comes out swinging against climate change
Mar 19th
City of Boulder provides $300,000 in Climate Action Plan funds for EnergySmart commercial rebates
The City of Boulder is providing $300,000 in Climate Action Plan (CAP) funds to enable more Boulder businesses and commercial property owners to make energy efficiency improvements through the EnergySmart program. The rebates will only be available for energy efficiency upgrades to existing commercial buildings in Boulder.
Nearly $900,000 in EnergySmart rebates have already helped to fund 450 commercial energy efficiency projects throughout Boulder County since the program began in November 2010.
EnergySmart rebates, in addition to utility rebates, significantly reduce the out-of-pocket expense to businesses and commercial property owners, making energy efficiency upgrades more cost-effective. EnergySmart rebates may be applied to qualified upgrades for commercial building lighting; heating and cooling systems; refrigeration equipment; and more. These limited-time EnergySmart commercial rebates will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis through Dec. 31, 2012 or until the available funds have been allocated – whichever occurs first. Commercial rebate applications are available at: www.energysmartyes.com/business.
In addition to providing rebate assistance, EnergySmart services include expert advisors to help businesses and commercial property owners assess energy-saving opportunities, utilize all available financing, and find qualified contractors to complete the work. For more information, contact an EnergySmart Advisor at 303-441-1300.
W.W. Reynolds Companies leading by example
The W.W. Reynolds Companies, Inc. is one of many Boulder County businesses taking advantage of EnergySmart commercial rebates to improve its bottom line through energy efficiency upgrades.
W.W. Reynolds Companies, one of the largest commercial property owners in Boulder, has leveraged EnergySmart and Xcel Energy rebates and services to retrofit nearly one million square feet of its commercial properties throughout Boulder County.
“This has been an amazing effort on everyone’s part,” said Aaron Schlagel with W.W. Reynolds. “Our green building team is always looking for ways to save energy and this ended up being a great public-private partnership with Xcel, the City of Boulder and Boulder County. These retrofits will help our tenants reduce overhead costs, while also improving our buildings systems’ performance. We couldn’t have made these investments without the support of the EnergySmart Advisor, Xcel and our lighting supplier, Summit Lighting.”
During the past 18 months, W.W. Reynolds Companies has completed upgrades for more than 30 of its commercially leased properties, including 60 lighting projects and 18 rooftop heating and cooling equipment replacements. These lighting and equipment upgrades are estimated to save W.W. Reynolds’ tenants more than two million kilowatt-hours per year and prevent 1,137 tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions1. The upgrades are also estimated to save enough energy to power 235 Colorado homes for one year2. Several tenants have reported that they are saving an estimated 20 to 25 percent on their utility bills as a result of these upgrades. With the help of EnergySmart and Xcel Energy rebates, and equipment from Summit Lighting, W.W. Reynolds was able to reduce its out-of-pocket costs by more than 75 percent.
To learn more about the W.W. Reynolds Companies, visit: wwreynolds.com.
EnergySmart
EnergySmart services are available to businesses and residents in all Boulder County communities. EnergySmart is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) through the Department of Energy’s BetterBuildings Program and is sponsored in partnership with Boulder County, the City of Boulder, the City of Longmont, Platte River Power Authority and Xcel Energy. For more information, visit www.energysmartyes.com.
Climate Action Plan
In November 2006, Boulder voters passed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax, the nation’s first tax exclusively designated for climate change mitigation. City businesses and residents are taxed based on the amount of electricity they consume. CAP tax revenues are used to promote energy conservation and assist Boulder businesses and residents with implementing energy efficiency upgrades. For more information on the City of Boulder’s Climate Action Plan, visit: www.bouldercolorado.gov/lead/climateaction.
Boulder will burn its open space
Mar 13th
City to conduct prescribed grassland burns this month
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department and the Boulder Fire Department will be conducting prescribed grassland burns this month. The burns will be conducted only if environmental and weather conditions fall within city burn plan guidelines. Ignitions will not begin before 10 a.m. and will end no later than 2 p.m.
Prescribed burns will be conducted at the following sites:
- OSMP Fell property, a 15-acre site located north of Valmont Road and east of 75th Street,
- OSMP Van Vleet property, a 25-acre site located west of South Boulder Creek and south of South Boulder Road.
- OSMP Gephard property, a 20-acre site located east of South Boulder Creek, north of South Boulder Road, and west of Cherryvale Rd.
Boulder’s ecosystems have evolved with fire over thousands of years. The prescribed burning of these areas will improve habitat for native plants and wildlife.
Additionally, OSMP, in conjunction with the Boulder Fire Department, will be conducting ditch burns throughout the spring on the city’s agricultural properties. OSMP has significant shares of water rights used primarily to support agricultural activity in the Boulder Valley. Ditch burning is important to the productivity of agricultural cropland and the efficiency of water delivery. Periodic burning removes the build up of plant debris in irrigation ditches and also keeps weeds at bay, reducing herbicide use. Burning is a cost effective way to clear irrigation ditches before the spring water run off.
No burning will occur on Red Air Quality days. Trained fire personnel and natural resource advisors will be on site during this activity.
For questions about prescribed burning on OSMP properties, please call 303-441-3440 or visit www.OSMP.org.
