Get ready for winter!  As you gear up for our winter season, be sure to let Molly know if you need any new signs, Employee Fact Sheet, remittance envelopes or other such materials.

Remember to include the 1% for Open Space logo on your own website, ads and other media materials. Contact Molly if you need the logo or desire specific wording to brag about all you’re doing to preserve open space in Gunnison County.

1% for Open Space is proud to be one of the Office for Resource Efficiency’s EnergyWise Business program participants.  We believe that when you’re an organization whose sole mission is to preserve open space land, you better make sure you’re doing nothing to harm that land either.  We want to run a business that causes the least amount of impact on the planet as possible.

Our experience with EnergyWise has been AMAZING!  We’ve performed a myriad of energy efficient upgrades and eagerly anticipate our year anniversary to see just how much we’ve been able to reduce our carbon footprint.

One of the best benefits has been the monetary incentives you receive just be being a member of the program.  We literally gleaned hundreds of dollars in energy efficient upgrades.  And, Frank Meadors, the go-to man for the program, is incredibly helpful in navigating all of the additional rebates, grants and incentives that are available on a federal state and utility provider level.

Travel to natural areas is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry, and ecotourism goes hand in hand with that.  We know there are tourists and consumers who make their travel and purchasing choices based on how businesses are running their business.  Already as a participating member of 1%, you have the potential to directly target this ecotourism market.  As a member of the EnergyWise Business Program, your platform is that much stronger.

Fall and the new year are perfect times to get rolling with a new program. The Energy Wise Business Program is a great way to take action now to reduce your energy bills. Get a free energy evaluation and hands-on assistance with determining the best strategy for your business to make improvements and cut costs. There are many other benefits to the program, see www.resourceefficiency.org/energy-wise-business-program-0 for all the details. Join Energy Wise now and get your $425 Challenge Grant while they still last! Time is running out, so contact Frank Meadors at the Office for Resource Efficiency: 970-641-7682 or frank@resourceefficiency.org.

Also don’t forget your own personal home! Take advantage of the Energy Smart  Double Down rebate special, available through November 30th, 2011! Gunnison County residents can get 40% up to

$400 back for energy improvements, including: furnaces, boilers, water heaters, appliances, insulation, air sealing, doors, windows and more. Find out more info at: http://www.resourceefficiency.org/energysmart-homes. To cash in, contact Bart, Home Energy Advisor at 970-641-7682 or bart@resourceefficiency.org.