Center for ReSource Conservation

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Impact Statement

A thriving community that understands the finite nature of natural resources and acts to conserve them.

Needs Statement

The residents of Boulder City and County as well as neighboring municipalities are committed to leaving the legacy of a healthy, sustainable community, society, and planet to future generations. Unfortunately, most people within our community are uncertain about how to turn that desire into action in practical and effective ways. Of those who have the knowledge, many fear that deprivation and discomfort are among the costs of taking action. The CRC addresses this need by providing individuals with the answers, the products, and the services that make sustainable choices not just manageable, but comfortable and profitable.

Background Statement

The Center for ReSource Conservation, formerly the Boulder Energy Conservation Center (BECC), was founded in 1976 by a group of community-minded citizens seeking ways to help reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources. The organization has since developed extensive expertise in the areas of green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation. We share practical solutions for environmental living through print and on-line communications materials, direct services, events, workshops, demonstration projects, tours, and walk-in/email/phone requests for information. Our goal is to tackle resource conservation issues close to home, provide accessible and affordable conservation solutions, and reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with non-sustainable practices. The Center for ReSource Conservation’s objective is to provide programs and services that empower individuals to turn natural resource conservation beliefs into action in their daily lives.

Executive Director Statement

Since the late 1970s, the Center for ReSource Conservation has worked to champion environmental causes. CRC has focused on Front Range communities and how water, waste, and energy programs can make a measurable impact toward improving the quality of life of their residents. CRC programs and services allow these residents the opportunity to increase the value and comfort of their homes, while saving money, improving the health of their environment, and stimulating the economy.

In these particularly challenging economic times, homeowners are looking more carefully at how they invest their limited funds. Even though most people want to do what they can to improve the environment, they analyze their return on investment when making home improvements. Our REAP program saves homeowners money, by offering a CRC Energy Consultant to educate them on cost-effective energy improvements in their homes and financial solutions available. In 2008, CRC guided over 700 homeowners through its energy programs, of which 450 took action to implement advised measures.

We look at how our funding (from individuals, corporations, and governments) translates to tangible results. In the REAP program, we have encouraged homeowners to invest nearly $400,000 in energy home improvements. We have also stimulated green jobs, with energy auditors, contractors and suppliers all benefiting from the demand for energy efficiency services. This program has the potential to grow in scope, geography, and delivered impacts.

Our water division addresses Colorado’s quandary of an increasing population facing decreasing water resources. We reduce the waste of precious water resources by helping homeowners learn how to efficiently use water inside and outside their residences. In partnership with utility companies and the cities of Aurora, Castle Rock, and Westminster, CRC’s 2009 Slow the Flow program guided 1,420 homeowners and 85 homeowner associations to drastically reduce water consumption. During that year, we sold 500 units of “Garden-In-A-Box” to residents who wanted starters in their desire to create low-water gardens suitable to Colorado’s environment and soils. We are seeking ways to commercialize this product so that thousands of these water-saving systems can be under local green thumbs.

Our waste division is dedicated to the ReSource Yard at 6400 Arapahoe, where customers purchase low-cost building materials and home improvement products. The program accepts tax-deductible material donations, and these materials are re-used vs. ending up in area landfills. At the end of 2009, we moved ReSource to an improved location donated by the City of Boulder. The ReSource team strives to divert more mass from landfills, increase its inventory, and provide our customers with care.

CRC has built a strong alliance of customers, government, and private sector partners, all of whom have a strong commitment to reducing damage to the environment, conserving natural resources, and improving living conditions. We would like to offer more programs in the community (and beyond), with consideration of our economic model, dependence on government funding, green job creation, and measurable environmental benefits. Your valuable contribution will enable CRC to create a lasting economic and educational engine, leading to a healthier community of our citizens and their environment.

Board Chair/President Statement

2009 has proven to be a pivotal year for the Center for Resource (CRC) Conservation. We’ve welcomed a new Executive Director, Keith Frausto, who comes to us with a distinguished background in relief and aid work throughout the developing world, and most recently, in community organizing in Adams County, Colorado. His work with the UN on some of Africa’s most challenging issues and with Adams County on tackling issues of inequality has given him the skills and perseverance he needs to help us move toward a more sustainable community.

The timing is perfect. Two of our three divisions, Water and Energy, are seeing a record number of audits and are preparing for significant growth in 2010. Our third division, the ReSource Yard where we sell recycled building materials, has broken sales records and is in the process of building out its new home at the City of Boulder’s Recycle Row facility. We’re proud to be a key part of the city’s zero waste initiative and grateful for the opportunity to extend ReSource’s reach into surrounding communities.

For the CRC, record sales and record numbers of audits mean we’re accomplishing our mission: we’re lightening the load to landfills by extending the life of countless sinks, doors, bathtubs, windows and other household items; and we’re teaching, informing, and empowering people to save money by using less of our natural resources. Everyone who has ever used our services or donated to our cause is part of this success.

As a non-profit whose sole mission is to empower our community to conserve natural resources, the CRC is able to work with groups that aren’t always in consensus – citizens, governments, businesses, the utilities that rely on the CRC to achieve goals that are now more essential than ever.

Contributions are essential to ensure the health of the Center for Resource Conservation.

"Resource is an amazing reclaimed materials heaven right outside Boulder."

"[ReSource] is amazing, I find myself going here before every project. The people who work here are very cool & are doing a great service to this area, keeping loads of cool stuff out of the landfill..."

“I have made the [energy] audit changes and now have added solar energy. It wouldn't have happened without the first step with REAP [Residential Energy Action Program]. Thanks.”

“[REAP] is a useful tool for increasing understanding of energy use and ways to economize on energy.”

“I want to thank your organization for providing this invaluable and free service [Slow the Flow Colorado Irrigation Audit]. I felt so much better about the watering program I was using and the suggestions that were made. [The auditor] was a great person to work with. He took time to explain the details of his inspection and the paperwork he left with me so that my plant life will do well in the future!!”

“[Slow the Flow Colorado] is a fantastic program, and if it was possible to be performed throughout the USA, I believe it could conserve trillions of gallons of life sustaining water, which is worth more than gold, or any other material thing on Earth.”

"[Gardens-In-A-Box] is a great program. It's so easy! I'm not a gardener, but the diagram, plant info, maintenance instructions and good sized plants made it perfect for a new gardener. It's a whole little ecosystem now, with flowers, toads, butterflies and bees."