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As the home of the National Renewable Energy
Lab (NREL) since its creation in 1977, Golden
has always been in the forefront of renewable
energy research. Beginning this year, the
City of Golden itself is embarking on a
Sustainability initiative.
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Solar Panels being installed on a house in
Golden
Photo courtesy of Goldensolar.net |
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Wind Turbine at the
Renewable Energy Demonstration Center
623 14th St |
City of
Golden - The city's web site
includes information on the current status of
our newly-launched
sustainability initiative. Teams have been
formed to study several aspects of the
initiative, including
- energy
- solid waste reduction/recycling
- transportation
- water conservation
- the economics of sustainable energy
- and energy efficient buildings.
The Final
Report of the study teams is now available
online.
Colorado
School of Mines - For more than a hundred
years, CSM has been a world leader in energy
education. Now, in addition to its
traditional focus
on fossil fuels, the school partners with other
state schools CU and CSU, along with the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the Colorado
Renewable Energy Collaboratory. The
Collaboratory develops new energy technologies
and transfers these advances as rapidly as
possible to the private sector. A similar
collaboration (CSM, CU, CSU, NREL) called the Colorado
Center for Biorefining and Biofuels is
focused on converting biomass into fuels and
other products.
Even now, CSM
is actively engaged in sustainability research
and practice.
- They are working to conserve both water
and energy on campus.
- Several research projects are underway in
renewable and alternative energy.
- All undergraduate students are required to
take courses in "Nature and Human
Values" and "Earth and
Environmental Systems," to ensure that
environmental stewardship is part of the
core training that CSM students receive.
- The school also offers programs to study
recycling and waste minimization as well as
"humanitarian
and technology studies."
To learn more about the research currently
underway at CSM, check these web sites:
NREL
- Learn about NREL's research into renewable
energy (wind, solar, geothermal, biomass,
hydrogen, etc.)
Colorado
Energy Science Center - This non-profit
organization, based in Golden, was founded by
NREL to provide practical consumer
information. They publish a magazine,
provide information through their web site, and
regularly present workshops to help consumers
learn how to apply sustainable energy practices
to their own homes and businesses, thus saving
energy costs.
| Biomass
Energy Foundation - Dr. Tom Reed has been
researching alternative fuels for more than
thirty years, first at MIT and later at NREL and
the School of Mines. He maintains a
research lab in Golden, exploring many aspects
of biomass energy. The web site is a good
place to find some difficult-to-find technical
books on energy development, as well as a small,
energy-efficient stove designed by Dr.
Reed, very popular with the backpacking
crowd.
Woodgas Camp Stove,
Designed by the Biomass Energy Foundation
in Golden |
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