Larimer County Justice Center - Fort Collins, CO

Briefly describe 3 projects your organization has undertaken during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition to improve your building’s energy efficiency.

The Larimer County Energy Conservation Specialist has given several presentations to various groups, including the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners, Probation Department staff, and the 8th Judicial District Green Team, regarding the organization’s participation in the competition. Outreach and engagement is ongoing.

The energy team has been busy sending out e-mails to building occupants, which remind them of the benefits of saving energy in the places where they work, play, and learn.

Recent improvements to the HVAC equipment significantly improved the building's energy efficiency from the mechanical perspective; the National Building Competition is a great opportunity to focus on the ways the building occupants can also contribute to further energy savings.

How has the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition made a difference in your organization’s efforts to save energy?

Since the official announcement of its participation in the National Building Competition, Larimer County has received a great deal of press coverage. The excitement around the competition has helped to increase awareness, motivation, and employee interaction and engagement in saving energy. Efforts include simply working to share with building occupants the ways they can contribute to energy savings, with the approach that we all want to work together to be good stewards. Since this is the just second large energy challenge that the competitor has held in the Larimer County Government facilities, they continue to learn the most effective ways to communicate and increase awareness. It is exciting for the Larimer County Justice Center to be a part of the National Building Competition; the competition has been a great opportunity to practice and demonstrate long-term energy savings through building occupant participation.

Briefly describe ways you have engaged your community in your efforts during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition (e.g. events, posters, signs, contests, open houses, web forums, etc).

Judicial Green Team members have met with the County Community Information Manager to help promote the competition. A special presentation/announcement was given to elected officials by the Energy Conservation Specialist. The first ENERGY STAR plaque awarded to a Larimer County Government building was for the Justice Center, which was unveiled on May 10, 2011 - the same day they held a Battle of the Buildings kick-off event. The Green Team promoted the kick-off event to building occupants to inform them of the Justice Center's participation in the competition, and posters have been displayed throughout the building. To further increase awareness and participation, small signs and notes have been created to serve as reminders to turn off unused lights and equipment.

If your efforts have been covered by online news outlets, please provide the Web link(s) here:

http://larimer.org/mobile/news/newsDetail.cfm?id=1039

http://www.reporterherald.com/ci_18295190?IADID=Search-www.reporterherald.com-www.reporterherald.com 

http://www.denverpost.com/energy/ci_18007302

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