The Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) implements programs for the community through three divisions – Waste (Deconstruction/Re-Use), Energy, and Water. 
Their upcoming event: 5th Annual CRC Reception and Auction
Mission statement – To empower our community to conserve natural resources.
Vision statement – A thriving community that understands the finite nature of natural resources and acts to conserve them.
Core Values
- Collaboration
- Global impact via local action
- Individual engagement is the cornerstone of conservation
- Stewardship of the organization’s resources
- Practice what we preach
Operational Guidelines –
- We engage individuals by responding to their own unique needs and goals.
- We offer information and programs across the full spectrum of natural resources conservation opportunities.
- We provide a continuum of opportunities and encourage individuals to grow from entry level actions to become conservation leaders within our community.
- We work within Boulder County in order to provide local models for replication throughout Colorado and beyond through innovation and success.
- We measure our success both in terms of individuals engaged and natural resources conserved (outputs and outcomes).
- We annually review our strategic plan and community needs to ensure a sustainable and relevant future for our organization.
History –
The Center for ReSource Conservation, formerly the Boulder Energy Conservation Center (BECC), was founded in 1976 by a group of community-minded citizens seeking ways to help reduce our dependence on non-renewable resources. The organization has since developed extensive expertise in the areas of green building, renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation. We share practical solutions for environmental living through print and on-line communications materials, direct services, events, workshops, demonstration projects, tours, and walk-in/email/phone requests for information. Our goal is to tackle resource conservation issues close to home, provide accessible and affordable conservation solutions, and reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with non-sustainable practices. The Center for ReSource Conservation’s objective is to provide programs and services that empower individuals to turn natural resource conservation beliefs into action in their daily lives.
Statement of Need –
The residents of Boulder City and County as well as neighboring municipalities are committed to leaving the legacy of a healthy, sustainable community, society, and planet to future generations. Unfortunately, most people within our community are uncertain about how to turn that desire into action in practical and effective ways. Of those who have the knowledge, many fear that deprivation and discomfort are among the costs of taking action. The CRC addresses this need by providing individuals with the answers, the products, and the services that make sustainable choices not just manageable, but comfortable and profitable.
Programs & Activities –
Each year, the CRC empowers more than 7,500 individuals to live a more sustainable life. The CRC reaches out to and engages these individuals through programming in its energy, water, and waste divisions:
The CRC’s Energy Division inspires action that advances energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy conservation technologies and approaches. The energy division operates the energy and green building hotline, provides residential energy audits, and hosts educational seminars, conferences, and tours, including the annual Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes. During 2008, the residential energy audit program alone will prevent approximately 50,000 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
The CRC’s Water Division develops and implements educational programs and services that help residents increase water use efficiency, adhere to best management practices, and reach conservation goals. The water division offers educational seminars on irrigation systems and xeric gardens, provides irrigation system inspections, and sells professionally designed, low cost xeric gardens to the public. Each year, the xeric garden program helps to convert 40,000 square feet of high-water-use landscape to xeriscape.
The CRC’s Waste Division, ReSource, promotes waste reduction through innovative landfill diversion programs. ReSource retail locations in Boulder and Fort Collins along with the ReSource Deconstruction Program salvage used building materials and resell them to the public ($700,000 in revenues annually), making it possible to reuse and recycle 2 million pounds of materials annually that would otherwise have been discarded during construction and demolition and basic remodeling projects.
Annual Operating Budget – The CRC’s 2008 operating budget is $1,509,413. During 2007, the CRC’s net operating revenues exceeded expenditures by $46,346.
CRC Staff – The CRC 2008 staff consists of 14 full-time, six part-time, and 25 seasonal employees. In addition, the CRC engages the services of hundreds of volunteers and interns. The CRC’s senior staff currently consists of:
Keith Desrosiers, Executive Director
Spenser Villwock, Deputy Director
Cliff Clusin, Business Operations Director
Debbie Fox, Energy Division Director
Jeannine Shaw, Water Division Director
Kim Knickerbocker, Development & Marketing Manager