The Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC), having staked its mission on the eradication of the criminal justice system's overuse, has recently embarked on a transformative journey, the refurbishment of its headquarters to create a multipurpose community space. CCJRC's deputy director, Kyle Giddings, highlighted the importance of this space for grassroots organizing and training, as reported by the City and County of Denver. Once a vibrant haunt of beatnik poets, the historical building now presents an inviting haven for nonprofits like Fully Liberated Youth and Soul 2 Soul Sisters, thanks to recent energy-efficient upgrades guided by the Energize Denver Energy Navigation (EDEN) program.
Facilities consultant Larry Martinez steered the organization through the EDEN program's exhaustive planning process. With extensive nonprofit experience, he anchored on LED lighting as a pathway to compliance but expanded the scope to include air source heat pumps and solar panels. Martinez leveraged Energy Performance Improvement Calculator (EPIC) reports, which provided pivotal data, such as potential cost savings. Giddings, in a statement obtained by the aforementioned Denver government portal, admitted that amidst planning, action can't be delayed, urging nonprofits to start ASAP with support from programs like EDEN.
The synergistic return on investment for the combined LED and heat pump system, although lukewarm individually, hammered home the financial benefits as a "package." This holistic approach transcended mere compliance, evolving into a sustainable energy model for the future. Tracy Phillips, the consultant who developed the EPIC reports, emphasized the objective nature of the tool, stating, "I'm not selling heat pumps," and clarified its role in ensuring contented outcomes for the building owners, according to the City and County of Denver.
