December 26, 2013 Jefferson County, Colorado | Volume 9, Issue 31 A publication of
arvadapress.com
NREL leads with sustainable landscapes By Amy Woodward
awoodward@ourcoloradonews.com The Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has received certification from a pilot program called SITES, an initiative to create more sustainable landscapes. Sustainable Sites Initiative or SITES spawned in June 2010, and has certified 26 projects across the nation from organizations, businesses and parks who have achieved a sustained land management system that progresses the idea of depleting the carbon footprint from inside a
building, to its outside. Around 30 acres on the NREL campus in Golden has received SITES certification including the campuses detention pond to help with storm water run-off, managing water use to replacing a natural habitat disturbed by the construction of the NREL campus. NREL was rated three out of four stars for their sustainable landscapes. “When you look at sustainability, you have to look at the entire way you do business, all of the impacts that you have,” Frank Rukavina, sustainable NREL director said. “It’s not just the waste we put in landfill.”
NREL’s part in SITES fits well with the lab’s building certifications from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED for green building design. “This was the perfect opportunity to do something about the landscaping because we built an enormous amount of buildings and disturbed a very large percentage of acreage of ground that we’re on,” Rukavina said. “We wanted to put that back into the most pristine environment that we could.” Managing water use is another important factor for any type of landscape, and NREL uses a satellite controlled watering system for their sprinkles that takes into
account humidity and weather forecast. These devices are readily available at a local hardware store such as Home Depot, Rukavina said. The detention pond is perhaps one of NREL’s most notable achievements in land management which helps to collect and discharge storm water run-off as well as minimizing the impact to the sustainable habitat NREL has created. The test came during the September floods with many drainage systems and ponds overrun by NREL continues on Page 5
Cyclists to ElEmEntary launchEs ride through its rEading rElay Golden in Stage 7
Mariah Leyva , Rachel Starcevic, Rhiannon Willard and Jadelah Jordan, first grade students, posed for a quick photo with the Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two at Allendale’s Seussival. Photo by Crystal Anderson
Allendale Elementary introduces students to reading through Seuss- themed carnival By Crystal Anderson
canderson@ourcoloradonews.com One book, two books, red books, blue books, oh the places you’ll go with reading. In an effort to combat childhood illiteracy, KPMG, an audit, tax and advisory firm, in conjunction with Allendale Elementary, 5900 Oak St., held a Dr. Seuss themed carnival for K-2 grade students, Dec. 6. “Literacy is so important,” said Della Moore the executive admin assistant for national campus recruiting for KPMG, “So many of these kids don’t have books in the home, and if they do, then they’ll read them and hopefully that will get
them excited about reading, and instill a love for it they’ll have the rest of their life.” The “Seussival” was held as the Colorado launch for KPMG’s, Family for Literacy Reading Relay campaign, a 90stop relay encouraging students to read across the country. The event hosted kindergarten through second-grade students in three groups, having each grade file in the gym at a time. Once seated around the middle of the gym, the students were treated to an appearance by Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two before separating into seven different groups. Each group had four to seven students who were guided by
KPMG volunteers to numerous literacythemed stations including a hopscotch, fishing, photo booth and a reading station. “It’s fun listening to these kids ask to hear different books they’ve heard,” said Mike Bearup, KPMG Denver’s managing partner, “We hope they go home and have mom, dad or whomever is in the home read to them.” For some students, the books received through the KPMG Reading Relay, are the only books they have at home, and according to one of Allendale’s second-grade teachers, Andrea
Reading continues on Page 5
Golden will officially take part in Stage 7 for the USA Pro Challenge 2014, officials announced on Dec. 18. The race will start in Boulder and travel through Golden with a grand finish with three laps around the state’s Capitol. A challenging climb on Lookout Mountain will also be incorporated into the race, according to race organizers. “The 2014 USA Pro Challenge is going to be the most exciting year yet,” Rick Schaden, owner of the USA Pro Challenge said in a statement. “Boulder, Golden and Denver have been such great hosts over the history of the race, so we decided to work them all into the final day of competition. These three iconic Colorado cycling locations are going to create one grand finale.” Starting on Aug. 18 to Aug. 24, the stages of the 2014 USA Pro Challenge will include: Stage 1: Monday, Aug. 18 - Aspen and Snowmass Village Circuit Race Stage 2: Tuesday, Aug. 19 - Aspen to Mount Crested Butte Stage 3: Wednesday, Aug. 20 - Gunnison to Monarch Mountain (mountaintop finish) Stage 4: Thursday, Aug. 21 - Colorado Springs Circuit Race Stage 5: Friday, Aug. 22 - Woodland Park to Breckenridge Stage 6: Saturday, Aug. 23 - Vail Individual Time Trial Stage 7: Sunday, Aug. 24 - Boulder to Denver “Cycling fans are so passionate and such an important part of the sport, so we decided to give them a voice in the route selection process,” Shawn Hunter, CEO of the USA Pro Challenge said . “We wanted to try something new this year and by incorporating fan feedback we have come up with what is going to be an incredible final day of racing.” Additional details on start and finish locations of the 2014 race, along with a detailed route will be announced in the spring. The 2014 route will mark the third time the racers will have come through Golden, and the second time they have ridden through Boulder.
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