Taylor introduces themselves as the new sustainability intern and expresses their excitement to work on initiatives to make the community and company more environmentally friendly. The document discusses how getting a home energy audit is a great first step to saving money and improving energy efficiency. An energy auditor can identify areas for improvement and provide cost-effective retrofits. Simple habits like unplugging devices and using cold water for laundry can also improve efficiency without costs. The document emphasizes the environmental and financial benefits of properly disposing an old refrigerator.

1. Energy at Home
Greetings BGV Community!
Taylor here, your summer Sustainability Intern. I am excited to dig into some of
the great initiatives and projects Kat has in mind for me and for BGV! I’m here
for a short time, but I look forward to working with you all
and helping make the community and company a little bit greener.
Wouldn’t it be GRAND to get more home for less energy? One of the reasons I like the topic of energy so
much is that there is so much you can do that is eco-friendly, saves you money, and improves your overall
quality of life. Home energy improvements can be a daunting process but they don’t have to be.
A great way to get started is to get a home energy audit. These days, many people think of improving home
energy as installing a rooftop full of solar panels. If you can do that, fantastic! However, often the most
common and cost effective home energy improvements come in the form of better insulation, air flow
quality and efficiency, heating and cooling systems, major appliances, and energy usage habits.
Energy audits can be done through any registered contractor for your energy company, such as Xcel Energy –
some great ones for Summit County being the High Country Conservation Center (HC3) and Energy Smart
Colorado. A professional energy auditor will discuss with you exactly where any home energy inefficiencies
are, go over rebates to help aid in your energy solution plan, and provide the best cost-effective retrofits
available.
Retrofits can improve overall air quality and flow through your home and provide a more comfortable and
healthier environment for you and your family. These improvements can raise the resale value of your home
along with saving you money on energy bills.
Audits and retrofits might not be for everyone though. There are a lot of simple habits and practices anyone
can do to improve energy efficiency that do not cost you a penny. To name a few: turn lights off in empty
rooms or before you leave the house, unplug appliances and chargers after use, only run a full dishwasher,
wash your clothes in cold water, and set your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit if it isn’t already
(Energy.gov shows how). Consider energy efficiency in your purchases as much as possible, especially when it
comes to those larger appliances like water heaters, washers and dryers, dish washers, and refrigerators. Find
them through Energy Star’s product finder and Xcel Energy’s rebate portal.
Some final advice: Upgrading to an energy efficient refrigerator, if you haven’t already, can greatly reduce
your energy costs considering refrigerators run around the clock, especially if your fridge is more than ten
years old. But what do you do with your old fridge?
There are a lot of materials and compounds in refrigerators that are horrible for the environment, most
notably Freon and other coolants, oils, and foam insulation. One great way to know your fridge is disposed of
properly is to find a retailer that partners with EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program. Do it the
RAD way and you can’t go wrong! Xcel Energy also has Refrigerator Recycling Rebates just for recycling your
refrigerator the right way!
Have energy tips and ideas? Email me at tmagnus@breckgv.com to share.
Always GRAND.
Always GREEN.
Taylor