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Environment

Emily Kuehn, our OSM/VISTA offers MLK Volunteer Day workshop and training in basic home energy efficiency in Norwood, Colorado. First, what’s an OSM/VISTA? That’s a Volunteer In Service To America through the Office of Surface Mining! Emily has been with us since last summer, working...

10 January, 2012 /

Jack Hoffman is an irascible piece of work. My 15-year-old daughter does a spot-on impersonation of his crotchety scold: “I know what I’m doing,” he screeches in a biting whine at his son Todd. This is from the “Gold Rush” reality show on The Discovery Channel. If...

07 January, 2012 /

One year ends, another begins. We humans traditionally review what we did (the good, bad and indifferent) and look to what we want and need to do in the next 12 months – our New Year’s Resolutions. The change of the calendar (whenever that happens culturally)...

27 December, 2011 /

The New Community Coalition has been around the Telluride region since 2007. As the Sustainability Coordinator for the region I’ve been pleased to have a full, strong work load that addresses all areas of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. After 5 years, some in the...

13 December, 2011 /

by Kris Holstrom

It always surprises me when the end of year sneaks up and taps me on the back. I’m convinced the speed of life accelerates annually. Regardless, the end of the year and end of a decade is an excellent time to look back at what was accomplished and to look forward to the work to come.


TNCC highlights in 2009:

30 December, 2009 /

by Kris Holstrom

Tn_EnglewoodSmall (1) The night was cold, but a small crowd gathered in Telluride at the east end of Colorado Avenue last night. Hot chocolate (the best!) was provided by Telluride Truffles. Conversations were wide ranging. What was this crowd gathered for? To spread the light.

Telluride downtown merchants have been meeting for the last several weeks and last night, the  tangible result: lights. Merchants really wanted to see the town lit up for the holidays, because bright lights equal upbeat, cheery. And we’ve always had the beautiful big tree full of colored lights at the West End of the commercial district to set the mood. But what about the East End of town? Nothing, nada, zilch, until Monday night, thanks to many who are lending a hand: business owners, council members, and people on the street are donating to purchase and fund new LED lights on the town lampposts and newly lit trees on the East end of Telluride's Main Street. These lights, purchased both through Timberline Hardware and the Telluride High School Y.E.S. Club, are LEDs or Light Emitting Diodes, and highly energy efficient.

02 December, 2009 /

Friday, December 4, in the Program Room of Telluride's Wilkinson Public Library, The New Community Coalition presents "Systems Thinking of Green Building." The principal speaker is James Pittman of the Ecosa Institute in Prescott, Arizona. (Eugene Wowk of Integrated Home Design will be present online.)

James Pittman holds an MSc, with distinction, in Ecological Economics from the University of Edinburgh, an MA in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University, Seattle, a Certificate in Systems Renewal Consultation from the International Institute for the Study of Systems Renewal, as well as a BA integrating education and sustainability from Prescott College. His specialty is developing interpersonal and technological solutions to issues of ecological, social, and economic sustainability. As a consultant James Pittman's clients include the President's Council on Sustainable Development, the Association of University Leaders for a Sustainable Future, the Mesa del Sol Eco-industrial Development Project at Cornell University, the EcoSage Corporation's SolarQuest Program, the City of Washington D.C., and the Wisconsin Public Service Power Corporation.

11 November, 2009 /

by Kris Holstrom

We have so much going on it’s hard to determine where to click for information and ideas. In the old days when print dominated the media landscape National Geographic Magazine was a standout. The incredible photography, fascinating subjects and universal reach brought the world to our mailbox.

While I still get and enjoy the paper copy of the magazine I’ve discovered the on-line National Geographic has resources galore. On a recent trip I had a bit of spare time and discovered one of their games I thought quite interesting. It’s called Plan It Green – and it’s a scaled down version of a simulation game where you can make decisions that affect your town – decisions from what kind of energy to promote and use to what kind of businesses might make a downtown area thrive.

07 October, 2009 /