The Community Office for Resource Efficiency is a nonprofit organization that promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency and green building in western Colorado and beyond. Gary Goodson, CORE's new Director as of November 2007, has been with CORE since 2005. He is supported by Director Emeritus, Randy Udall, who was CORE's first Director beginning in 1994.
CORE's partnerships with individuals, governments, and businesses (which includes three local utilities) has led to a remarkable series of accomplishments. Our renewable energy and energy efficiency programs will keep 800 million pounds of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere over the next 20 years. For example, Holy Cross Energy, one of CORE's utility partners, is buying more wind power than ANY of the nation's other 929 rural electric utilities, thanks to an innovative green pricing program that CORE promotes. Additionally, Aspen Municipal Electric and Glenwood Springs Electric System, CORE's two other utility partners, rank in the top five of the nation's 2,000 municipal utilities for the percentages of wind power that they purchase.
In 1998, CORE started the nation's first "solar production incentive" program, which pays local residents $2.00/watt for installing a solar photovoltaic system. (Up to $6,000 per customer). Incentives are also available for installing solar hot water systems and purchasing Energy Star appliances. See the cash incentives link for more details.
In 2000, we helped start the world's first Renewable Energy Mitigation Program (REMP), which has raised nearly $8,000,000 over the last seven years. This money is used to fund various grant programs to lower carbon emissions in the Roaring Fork Valley.
CORE also tracks national and global energy trends. Our four page primers on natural gas and peak oil have been widely reprinted. Did you know that two-thirds of U.S. oil and nearly half the nation's natural gas has already been consumed?
The average American family is now producing about 44,380 pounds of greenhouse gases each year, enough to fill two Goodyear blimps. Our website can help you reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. See "What you can do" for more details.
CORE also provides community energy education through forums, presentations, and newspaper and magazine articles. Working closely with government entities, we develop public policy favoring sustainable energy solutions.
Since its inception, CORE has raised 60%-70% of its funding through grants. Major contributors include: The City of Aspen, Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, the Aspen Skiing Company's Environment Foundation, Glenwood Springs Electric System, Louisiana Pacific Corporation, Rebuild Colorado, Rockefeller Foundation, Sandia National Lab, Turner Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Energy. CORE also provides fee for service income for such efforts as managing the REMP program as described above. Sponsorships are also available. Please contact Nathan Ratledge at nathan@aspencore.org for more information.
CORE STAFF
Gary Goodson
Director
As Director, Gary is responsible for CORE’s programs and operations. Gary also manages CORE’s REMP grant efforts, which have collected over $8M since 2000.
Prior to joining CORE in 2005, Gary was the Deputy Director of the Green Building Alliance in Pittsburgh, PA where he worked for nearly seven years. While there, Gary was responsible for managing a green consulting group. He also spearheaded the implementation of the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) green elements of the Gold rated $400M Pittsburgh Convention Center. The Center is amongst the largest LEED Certified buildings in the world and the site of the 2003 USGBC Greenbuild Conference. In addition, Gary has presented papers at several conferences including the Sustainable Building Conference in Oslo, Norway.
A LEED Accredited Professional, Gary holds a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Systems and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Gary lives with his family in Basalt.
Nathan Ratledge
Climate Coordinator
Filling the new position of Climate Coordinator, Nathan is responsible for monitoring REMP funded projects, including CORE’s residential rebate program, and tracking carbon savings. In addition, Nathan operates in a variety of other rolls including fundraising, public outreach and project research.
Nathan started as an intern for CORE in 2004, but also spent a significant amount of time working with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Prior to his involvement with CORE, he worked with Conservation International, the Smithsonian and La Selva Biological Station in Costa Rica.
Nathan attended the University of Georgia and holds a B.A in Ecological Anthropology and minors in English and Environmental Ethics. Arriving in Aspen after a summer in Alaska, he is happy to have stumbled across this wonderful community. You can find him on the mountain anytime that Gary isn’t looking.
Joshua Smith
Energy Manager
As Energy Manager, Josh manages the Town of Carbondale’s Energy and Climate Action Plan. He helps the Town’s government, businesses, and citizens save money through energy education and incentive programs. He is also involved with the development of Carbondale’s online “one-stop-shop” which will feature information on green technologies, rebates and products. He strives to increase awareness of the benefits of energy conservation and ultimately for all to share the benefits and responsibilities of keeping Carbondale healthy.
Before joining CORE, Josh worked for Sustainable Settings, a land-based educational non-profit, where he was their Green Building Coordinator. Before that he worked in the weatherization field, built rock climbing gyms, worked as a product designer, continuing education teacher, and shop carpenter for a regional theatre. He has traveled through New Zealand and Australia, working with farmers, potters, and sculptors. He holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Design from the University of Cincinnati, DAAP; he is an Eagle Scout and holds licenses in Permaculture Design and Light Commercial Contracting. Josh is a rock climber and practices tai chi and yoga. He believes in self-reliance, and that each of us can make a difference through even small actions.
He is getting married this summer!
