ResourceSmart Colorado presented an informative breakfast program on October 13 about technical assistance and financial incentives available to the owners and operators of commercial buildings for reducing consumption of water and energy. ResourceSmart Colorado is a ground-breaking partnership among NAIOP Colorado, Denver Water and Xcel Energy to promote conservation in office buildings, warehouses and other commercial real estate in the Denver metropolitan area.
The program began with a brief quiz show titled “Are You Smarter Than Jim Creighton?” Moderator Susan Stanton asked audience members and the Chapter’s Programs Committee Chairman Jim Creighton multiple choice questions about resource conservation, which Mr. Creighton gamely answered incorrectly. During the quiz show, the audience was treated to a running toilet – an actor, dressed in a toilet costume, ran through the crowd.
Moderator Joe Dischinger, co-chair of NAIOP Colorado’s Sustainability Subcommittee, explained why the chapter is so excited about the ResourceSmart Colorado partnership. Everyone wins through the program, as NAIOP members learn about opportunities to save money, the utilities get help meeting their conservation targets, and more efficient buildings and landscaping benefit the environment.
Stacy Smith, a representative of Denver Water, and Derek Shockley, from Xcel Energy, each provided an overview of the wide array of incentives and rebates that the utilities provide to building owners and operators for making improvements that cut down on resource use. Given the number of incentives available, both offered to meet individually with NAIOP members to discuss what programs and incentives might be available for specific commercial properties.
After learning about the incentive programs, we heard from building owners and managers who have used and benefited from the utilities’ incentives and expertise. Jim McGibney, from First Century Development, discussed the benefits of sustainable building at his projects, focusing on the 1755 Blake Street building, and highlighted the energy conservation incentives available from Xcel Energy. Patrick Gorham, of CB Richard Ellis, discussed the incentives available for retrofitting existing buildings. Both expressed enthusiastic views on the money that can be saved through an informed use of the incentive programs. Click Here to view the speaker slides from the event. Be sure to visit the Denver Water and Xcel Energy websites for more information regarding Efficiency Incentives and Rebates for your home or commercial property today.
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