Creating a Net Zero Energy District requires concerted effort in four key areas, in order of greatest to least impact: improving energy efficiency in generation, conservation, and flexibility; developing and implementing small-scale on-site renewables such as cost-effective solar PV panels and micro-wind turbines; creating more utility-scale green power such as wind and solar farms; and, to close the gap as needed, purchasing market-based renewable energy credits to offset the usage of non-renewable energy sources.

Implementation in five overarching strategies:
1.    Create a 5 Megawatt “jump start” demonstration.
2.    Encourage and incent high performance in the built environment.
3.    Remove barriers to develop needed infrastructure and create unique financial incentives in this district.
4.    Local power generation and demand management.
5.    Education and promotion.

STRATEGY ONE: Jump start a 5Mw demonstration project by 2010
A pilot program which will produce 5 Megawatts of energy, or approximately 10% of the district’s energy demand, will help to raise awareness of FortZED and will begin to build momentum for our larger goal of district-wide implementation. A mix of conservation, local power generation, peak load management and clean energy from utilities will help us to achieve this initial goal.

This jumpstart zone is well underway, thanks to a U.S. Department of Energy grant that will bring more than $11 million in investment from federal, state, business and community sources. Click here to learn more about this grant.

An important first step to creating the demonstration zone will be to perform a thorough baseline study to better understand what it will take to reach our goal, including analyzing usage data to gain a concrete knowledge of electric and thermal energy demand in the district by residential, commercial and institutional users and identifying trends so we know what growth in energy consumption can be expected as the project progresses. This study is currently being undertaken with the leadership of the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster and Fort Collins Utilities. After performing the study, we will fill in/revise these strategies and timelines to ensure we focus our efforts in the right areas.

STRATEGY TWO: Encourage and incent high performance in the built environment
As new projects are built in the UniverCity District, we can leverage our net zero opportunity and showcase projects as world-class examples of energy production, energy management and resource conservation. 
The City, the DDA, CSU and other stakeholders need to be aligned to encourage and guide new and retro-fit programs toward sustainability.  FortZED should identify technical resources and financial opportunities and incentives to encourage new development and existing businesses and residences to significantly increase their conservation capabilities. In addition, we will work to make developers, businesses, institutions and homeowners aware of the incentives and other financial opportunities that are available through education and promotion (see Strategy Five, below).

Progress has been made in this area, as well, as the Downtown Development Authority passed a Green Building Initiative to incent high performance in the built environment in July 2008.

STRATEGY THREE: Remove barriers to develop needed infrastructure
FortZED leaders will need to work within the political framework to influence legislation and regulation. FortZED is aligned with our governor’s goal of developing the “new energy economy” as a significant economic engine for our state. In addition, the growing momentum for clean energy in the local and national media and shifting public opinion in favor of a more sustainable lifestyle create an opportunity for a public petition, citizen referendum or other show of support to further influence lawmakers. The timing is terrific for legislative and regulatory change.

The city’s utility, planning and building code departments will need to collaborate with the FortZED initiative to ensure success. Utility rate structuring to benefit on-site energy production will make a financial impact. Tax incentives and tax increment financing will need to be developed to make the FortZED Net Zero Energy District a reality. 

STRATEGY FOUR: Local power generation and demand management
Net zero energy development depends on a mix of larger scale, local, renewable energy projects like CSU’s Maxwell Ranch, on-site energy production including photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installations and micro-turbines and demand management which includes conservation and peak energy management by the city’s utilities. The Maxwell Ranch wind farm is expected to create more energy than CSU uses and FortZED will work to position ourselves so that the district is able to purchase this local renewable energy.

STRATEGY FIVE: Education and promotion
A PR push will help to jump-start the 5 Megawatt demonstration project and inform the community of its progress while simultaneously educating the public about the need for renewable energy and about existing and new incentives to implement renewable energy. Centralized information and communications materials will need to be developed to educate and excite FortZED stakeholders. Grassroots neighborhood groups will need to be developed as a way to encourage participation and communication. Simple acts like partnering with local schools to promote energy conservation will make a difference, too. Schools in the UniverCity district could sell CFL bulbs as fund-raisers; they’d be working on service learning in alignment with their community!

Our first education and promotion program is the Green Restaurant Initiative. Click here to learn more.