285 Hustler October 3, 2024 by Colorado Community Media

GREEN HOMES TOUR

Saturday, October 5, 2024

Self-Guided Tour 9am–4pm • $15/adult $25/couple

Beautiful, Comfortable, Healthy Homes

Register online at: MetroDenverGreenHomesTour.org or register in person at Jefferson Unitarian Church (JUC) • 14350 W. 32nd Ave • Golden, CO 80401

Electric Vehicle Roundup

3pm–5pm

JUC Parking Lot: 14350 W. 32nd Ave • Golden, CO

Reception & Green Expo

4:30 – 6:30pm at JUC FREE Appetizers & Local Beverages Live Music! • Renewable Energy & Sustainable Living Exhibits

“Real people telling real stories about their path to electriﬁcation.” – Mark N.

“There’s simply nothing more inspiring than seeing green homes features in person!” — Angela K.

“The tour gave me a lot of ideas for improving my older home.” — Kelsey Z.

For more information: support@NewEnergyColorado. com

Visiting Other Countries This Year Gave Me New Insight on What’s Possible in Society

Tuesday evening Rita and I returned from completing our world tour. It took us from Los Angeles to Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, France, England, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, and Canada. From Montreal, we drove through northern New England at peak foliage, before flying home from Boston on Tuesday. In addition to daily lectures by distinguished diplomats and professors, we went on shore excursions in each port, learning how life differs from country to country.

Crime rates, especially gun violence, is so much lower everywhere we visited, because gun ownership is so rare compared to America, where there are more guns than people.

Don’t Miss Saturday’s Green Homes Tour!

In Copenhagen, over 50 percent of workers commute by bicycle, helped by winters which are milder than in Denver. Montreal, however, is recognized as the most bicycle-friendly city in the world, with more separated bike lanes than Amsterdam.

Being a Realtor, I naturally was interested in how people were housed, and, being committed as I am to sustainable living and saving the planet from the ravages of climate change, I paid attention to how sustainable their energy grid is, and how water and waste are handled. As a longtime owner of EVs, I also noted whether the places we visited were more or less on board with the shift to EVs than here at home.

Altogether, Rita and I were away for over five months, with a 3½-month break back in Colorado this summer. I posted my observations every day at http://wherearejimandrita.substack.com

We were most impressed with the Scandinavian countries — Sweden, Denmark and Norway. As I reported on my blog, every bus and truck in those countries is equipped with an breathalyzer interlock device. The vehicle will not start without the driver proving through that device that he has zero alcohol in his bloodstream. That’s right, not below a legal limit but zero. Passenger cars don’t have such a device, but the penalties for driving with even a low alcohol level are severe. The result is a huge decline in alcohol-related accidents and deaths over the past decades.

Here in America we have photo radar units which generate speeding and red light tickets for drivers, but the tickets do not result in points against your license. In Sweden the secondary roads have photo radar units every few miles, and if you are captured on camera going more than 15 kilometers per hour over the speed limit, your driver’s license can be suspended. (Fortunately, even the rural highways have bus service.) On my blog you’ll find a video showing one of these roadside radar units. Here’s a screenshot from it:

As far as we could tell, homelessness was not a significant problem anywhere we visited, unlike in America. In Sweden and Norway, most middle-class people live in the city but have a summer cottage, so statistically there is more than one home per family overall.

Single-family homes are much rarer in these other countries. Most people either rent or own an apartment in a multi-family structure. In Montreal we were shown the six-family homes constructed following World War II to house returning soldiers. In America, the post-war pattern was set by Levittown: subdivisions of one-story homes, typically with a garage, made possible, of course, by all the empty land here.

Levittown is also famous for not selling to black soldiers, which brings up another observation. In one of the lectures we attended about why Scandinavians regularly ranked as the happiest people in the world, it was pointed out that those countries have no history of serfdom or indentured servants, as one of the reasons. There’s less ingrained fear among populations.

Regarding EVs, there was a vast disparity in the adoption rate of electric vehicles from country to country. In Norway, effective Jan. 1 of this year, every taxicab had to be an EV, and in Bergen all city buses and most tourist buses are electric. In Montreal, the EV adoption rate is similar to here, but the trucks and buses are all diesel and the street noise level is unpleasantly high.

I encourage you to check out my blog for other insights.

Now is the best time to create a more sustainable home. The benefits are huge, and the savings are tempting. But how do you start? The easy first step is to experience the annual Metro Denver Green Homes Tour, of which Golden Real Estate is a co-sponsor.

Join the self guided tour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 5th for just $15 per adult or $25 per couple. Follow the maps in the guide book to see some fantastic homes, all at your own pace. Explore creative older home retrofits and exciting new homes. See how your neighbors are enjoying beautiful, comfortable and healthy homes that benefit their communities and take on the changing climate, all while saving significant money over time.

Get some great ideas for your home. The tour features post-Marshall-fire homes rebuilt with unique sustainable and energy efficient designs; a Washington Park 1920s Craftsman-style green remodel; a 1950s home with a ground-source heat pump, solar power, and xeriscaping; the latest energyefficient all-electric townhomes; an updated 1979 solar home; and more.

Learn about current government and utility incentives. Learn how to harness free energy with dependable solar power and battery systems that shield you from brownouts and blackouts while dodging expensive utility timeof-use rates. Discover the latest heat pump technology; passive solar strategies; induction cooking; effective insulation; electric lawncare equipment; accessory dwelling units; and state-of-the-art construction materials. After the tour, plan to attend the free Reception & Green Expo: 4:30 to 6:30pm at Jefferson Unitarian Church (JUC), 14350 W. 32nd Ave., Golden Enjoy free appetizers, local beverages and live music. See renewable energy & sustainable living exhibits, a mobile container home unit, and electric bikes. From 3 to 5pm check out the electric cars in our annual EV roundup Bring your questions. Talk to homeowners and gain from their experiences and advice. Talk to builders and suppliers and learn about the latest techniques, technologies and money saving incentives. You can purchase a ticket at www.NewEnergyColorado.org

Jim Smith

YOUR GO TO, GAME TIME DESTINATION FOR PRO FOOTBALL

TRIVIA

1. MOVIES: Which animated lm was the rst to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture?

2. SCIENCE: What is a common name for the Aurora Borealis?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who was the third U.S. president?

4. GEOGRAPHY: Where are the Maldives (islands) located?

5. MUSIC: Who was the rst woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

6. TELEVISION: What is Dorothy’s job on “ e Golden Girls”?

7. MATH: Which number doesn’t have a Roman numeral equivalent?

8. LITERATURE: In the Harry Potter series of novels, what was Lord Voldemort’s name before he changed it?

9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Which dog breed doesn’t “bark”?

10. FAMOUS QUOTES: Who wrote the poetic line about fall, “Nature’s rst green is gold”?

Answers

1. “Beauty and the Beast.”

2. Northern Lights.

3. omas Je erson.

4. Indian Ocean.

5. Aretha Franklin.

6. Substitute teacher.

7. Zero.

8. Tom Marvolo Riddle.

9. Basenji.

FLASHBACK

1. Which singer released “All Alone Am I”?

2. What was the limbo?

3. Name the singer-songwriter who released “Will It Go Round in Circles.”

4. Which group released “Owner of a Lonely Heart”?

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “I belong to another whose love has grown cold, but I promised forever to have and to hold.”

Answers

1. Brenda Lee, in 1962. e original song was Greek, written for a Greek lm. Lee’s English language version topped the Billboard chart and stayed there for ve weeks.

2. e limbo was a dance done by bending backward and moving under a horizontal pole without touching it and without touching the ground while the pole was gradually moved lower and lower.

3. Billy Preston in 1973. e song topped the charts in the U.S.

and in Canada but also charted in Australia and South Africa. 4. Yes, in 1983. e song had its beginnings in South Africa when it was recorded on a 4-track tape player.

5. “Please Help Me, I’m Falling,” by Hank Locklin, in 1960. After spending nine months on the country chart, the song showed up near the top of the Hot 100 chart. Several artists have released covers over the years, including the Everly Brothers and John Fogerty.

Merchandise

Arts & Crafts

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70+ Vendors, Little Bear Café, Cookie Walk & FREE Raffle!

Friday, October 18th

10:00am-4:00pm & Saturday, October 19th

9:00am-3:00pm 11355 N. Sheridan Blvd. Westminster (303-466-7770) Admission: FREE Suggested Donation: Non-perishable food items (not expired) for local food banks

Firewood

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Medical

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CAREERS

CITY OF CENTRAL

Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator.

City of Central FTE Hourly range from $25.03 - $29.41 per hour DOQ/E

Requirements: An equivalent combination of education, certi cations, and experience equivalent to graduation from High School/GED equivalent, and one year of experience in water treatment utilities operations. Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license with safe driving record. Possession of a valid Class “C” Water Treatment License is required and a valid Class “2” Distribution License is required. Under direct supervision of the Water Department Supervisor, this position performs technical duties related to water treatment and distribution. is position is responsible for water sampling and analysis; pump station operation, maintenance scheduling, reservoir operation, and valve vault inspection; water quality monitoring and reporting and providing customer service. Such a position is also responsible for assisting the Water Department Supervisor with billing issues, water rights accounting, and operation of intake diversions. Position performs duties in a manner consistent with the stated values of the organization. e City provides a comprehensive bene t package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage. 100% of the employee’s premiums are paid by the City and approximately 98% of dependent premiums are paid by the City. Paid vacation and sick leave, 401(a) and 457b employer retirement contributions; een paid holidays annually. City paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Water Treatment Plant Operator.

City of Central FTE Hourly range from $21.59 - $25.36 per hour DOQ/E

Requirements: An equivalent combination of education, certi cations, and experience equivalent to graduation from High School/GED equivalent, and one year of experience in water treatment utilities operations. Must possess a valid Colorado driver’s license with safe driving record. Possession of valid Class “D” Water Operator License and a valid Class “1” Distribution License are preferred. Under direct supervision of the Water Department Supervisor, this position performs technical duties related to water treatment and distribution. is position is responsible for water sampling and analysis; pump station, reservoir, and valve vault inspection; water quality monitoring, and providing customer service. Such a position performs duties in a manner consistent with the stated values of the organization. e City provides a comprehensive bene t package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage. 100% of the employee’s premiums are paid by the City and approximately 98% of dependent premiums are paid by the City. Paid vacation and sick leave, 401(a) and 457b employer retirement contributions; een paid holidays annually. City paid Long Term Disability and Life Insurance.

Apply now: A detailed job description can be found on the City’s website https://centralcity.colorado.gov/. Quali ed applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to the Finance/Human Resources Director at arobbins@cityofcentral.co or mail to P.O. Box 249 Central City, CO 80427. e position is open until 10/13/2024. EOE.

MARKETPLACE

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