Humans have an innate desire to connect with the natural world - in fact, it's essential to our health. With growing awareness of this essential connection, biophilic design principles are being incorporated into our built environment. Join us for an overview of the science, principles, and benefits of biophilic design

Learning Objectives:

Explore what biophilia and biophilic design is.
Find out about their economic and human-centered benefits.
Discover how you can integrate these place-based and nested strategies in your design process and projects.
Understand how biophilic design contributes to LEED, WELL, and Living Building Challenge certification

For more information please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/first-wednesday-education-series-biophilic-design-tickets-56205893340

Building experts from around the community will be presenting in short 5-min circuits on a green building strategy they tried and tested over the past year. It will be a night full of lessons learned, innovative strategies that yielded positive sustainability results, and different practices that our local green builders employ on their projects that help support the sustainability and resiliency of our local community. Come learn from your peers about different ways you can employ sustainability in your day to day work!

The Limelight Awards are a chance for us to celebrate the LoDo neighborhood and those that make it such a special place to live, work, and play. This annual event also serves as one of LoDo District’s primary fundraisers giving us the means to advocate for and support Lower Downtown and its business and residential community

We've designed this year's program to be light and fun, including BINGO, private beer tours, giveaways, specialty beer, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, networking, and more!

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Please contact Mindi Wardell at mindi@lodo.org.

This town hall discussion is co-hosted by Colorado State Representative Chris Hansen, the Colorado European Union Center of Excellence, the German American Chamber of Commerce - Colorado Chapter and the Ecologic Institute, sponsored by the German Foreign Office through the German Embassy in Washington DC. 

Germany’s electricity mix is currently at about 40% renewables and on track for the 80% target for 2050. Are 100% renewable electricity feasible and if so, by when?

Speakers:

• Colorado State Rep. Chris Hansen
• Felicia Martinez, Colorado European Union Center of Excellence 
• Paul Maricle, Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Colorado 
• Jens Acker, First Secretary for Energy and Trade at the German Embassy in Washington DC 
• Dr. Martin Keller, Laboratory Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) 
• Jerry Tinianow, Western Urban Sustainability Advisors 
• Mike Kruger, Colorado Solar and Storage Association 
• Max Gruenig, Ecologic Institute (moderator) 

The German Energy Transition has entered a new phase at the beginning of 2017 and is in a process of becoming more market-oriented with auctions as the new default price-tool. The 3rd generation of the renewable energy law introduced technology-specific capacity ceilings, setting limits on the annual growth of each of the four renewable power sources: onshore wind, offshore wind, photovoltaics and biomass.

The new legal framework also enables a closer alignment of grid infrastructure and new renewable capacity. With grid-expansion the declared first priority in how to respond to the challenge of clustering of renewables capacity and the imbalance of supply and demand, Germany is also aiming for closer European integration, including opening the
auctions for European Union member states.

What lessons can be learned from the experience in Germany and how can these be applied to Colorado?

Please register at https://roadto100redenver.eventbrite.com by October 1. The event is free, but registration is required. Food and beverages will be provided.

RSVP here.
Upslope and Patagonia Present: "B" the Change in Craft Beer - a FREE Happy Hour & B Corp Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 2nd (7-9 pm) at Patagonia downtown

7:00 - 7:30 pm -- Networking + beers (& Spiked Snowmelt hard seltzer)
7:30 - 8:30 pm -- Panel Discussion
8:30 - 9:00 pm -- Questions + more mixing

Interested in learning about sustainability in the brewing community and the road to becoming a Certified B Corporation? Join us as we discuss how we use our businesses as a force for good with fellow B Corps in and out of the craft beer space.

Drinks provided by Upslope & New Belgium Brewing!

B CORP PANELISTS:

Upslope Brewing Company // Lizzy Waters, Sustainability Manager and Matt Cutter, Founder

Crosby Hop Farm // Staci Wallace, Sustainability Advisor

New Belgium Brewing // Katie Wallace, Director, Social and Environmental Impact at New Belgium Brewing

Namasté Solar // Geri Mitchell-Brown, Director of Employee Experience (and member of the Colorado B Local board)

PANEL MODERATED BY:

Lora Ledermann, Founder/Owner/Creative Director of Scream Agency

Companies and investors are waking up to the dangers and potential financial losses posed by climate change. Many now consider environmental hazards and their impacts on society and supply chains to be more dangerous than turbulent markets, cyberattacks or geopolitical snafus.

With these risks comes opportunities and competitive advantages. How can we take action?

Join us at The Alliance Center on Thursday, October 3, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:00 PM for a business-centered conversation and networking opportunity on the "why" and "how" to lead the fight against climate change. Listen to testimonies and hear about local initiatives happening now.

Light snacks and refreshment will be provided!

Register here.

The state of Colorado is a leader in energy development, regulations and targets for sustainability. Following the passing of the Protect Public Welfare Oil and Gas Operations bill (SB181) during 2019’s legislative session, new rules for oil and gas development are being created and implemented, with more local communities’ input into those rules.

Coal plants are being phased out, and new solar and wind installations are rapidly enhancing the state’s renewable energy portfolio.

How can we build an efficient, safe and diverse energy portfolio that quickly transitions Colorado to a more sustainable and renewable future, all the while considering the diverse viewpoints of stakeholders in this complex and often contentious dialogue on Colorado’s energy future?

Our panelists will help us to navigate these complex issues.

Panelists:

Jeff Lyng
Director, Energy and Environmental Policy, Xcel Energy

Kelly Nordini
Executive Director, Conservation Colorado

Lance Titus
Managing Director of Business Development, Origination and Structured Transactions, Uniper Global Commodities

Will Toor
Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office

Moderator:
Yosef Bonaparte
Executive Director, CU Denver School of Public Affairs Institute
EVENT DETAILS:
When: 7:30-9 a.m. Friday, October 4, 2019,
** Check-In from 7:15-7:45
Where: Terrace Room (2nd floor), 1380 Lawrence Street, Denver (map)
Admission: Free, but space is limited! Breakfast will be served.

This event is open to the public. Please forward this invitation to anyone you feel might be interested. If you require ADA access or special accommodations to attend the event, please contact spa.events@ucdenver.edu

This four year running event will connect industry executives, advocates, scientists and thinkers together to envision a sustainable future for the cannabis industry – and provide decision-makers with the tools they need to make positive changes today. We will be hosting the inaugural Cannabis Sustainability Awards nationally recognizing cannabis businesses for their work to improve sustainability in their operations and communities.

Tickets on Sale now at cannabissustainability.org . Use the passcode "FRIEND" for a discount.

• FB @CannaCertificationCouncil
• IG @CannaCertCouncil
• Twitter @CannaCouncil

Hear from over 15 city agencies on what grants have done for their agencies and learn about future grant opportunities! You can also talk with grant writing specialists!

You can also:

• Come network with City Agencies to see what they are doing with grant dollars
• See how grant dollars have positively impacted YOUR City 
• Talk with grant writing specialists 
• Discuss how grants can impact your department/organization 
• See current opportunities for grant dollars in City departments 
• Light refreshments provided!

To RSVP, visit: https://grantsinthecity.app.rsvpify.com/

Southern Colorado Sustainability & Outdoor Living Expo is a 2 day event being held October 5th & 6th, 2019 at the Colorado Springs Event Center. This event showcases homesteading & sustainability ideas, and much more! Non-Stop Educational Seminars All Weekend!

Southern Colorado Sustainability & Outdoor Living Expo is a 2 day event being held October 5th & 6th, 2019 at the Colorado Springs Event Center. This event showcases homesteading & sustainability ideas, and much more! Non-Stop Educational Seminars All Weekend!

Join USGBC Colorado for the Fall Happy Hour on Thursday, October 10th in Denver.

This annual event is open to all USGBC Colorado communities, from Southern Colorado all the way up to our mountain communities in Roaring Fork and Eagle Valley.

Meet and mingle with other professionals in Colorado's green building community and learn more about membership with USGBC Colorado. Meet our committee chairs from throughout the state to learn more about the work that they do for USGBC, and how you can get involved. All ages and levels of experience are welcome!

Registration includes 2 beverages, shared appetizers, and a gift for you to bring home!

Not a member of USGBC Colorado yet? Be one of the first 5 people to renew or sign up for membership onsite at the Fall Happy Hour and receive a FREE pass to a USGBC signature event of your choice! See Annie upon arrival to sign up/renew and to claim your prize!

Choose from one of the following signature events:

• Green Schools Summit (November 8, 2019) ($100 - $220 value!)
• Rocky Mountain Green (RMG) 2020 ($175 - $250 value!) 
• An RMG add on: Workshop, Tour, or Women in Green breakfast ($40 - $75 value!) 

For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/usgbc-colorado-fall-happy-hour-tickets-68281236015

With traditional business models for local journalism near collapse in the Digital Age dominated by Facebook and Google, more Colorado communities are becoming "local news deserts" with very little original, independent, local news.

Research shows that civic impacts abound when local news outlets close or reduce coverage -- the public lacks independent information about important issues, voter turnout lags, local officials have fewer avenues to inform voters and residents, and the perception of reduced government transparency has been linked to higher municipal bond rates and other costs.

What strategies exist for local communities and elected officials to address these issues? How might existing institutions like libraries and higher education expand their roles in addressing community information needs? What new opportunities exist for public-private partnership in this space?

This panel and audience discussion will include a summary of research findings and recommendations from an October 2019 report by the Colorado Media Project, which convened national, state, and local leaders in journalism, government, libraries, higher education, technology, and law to study Colorado public policy pathways for sustaining local news and civic information.

Moderated by Corey Hutchins, who covers media trends for The Colorado Independent and Columbia Journalism Review, and is Colorado College's Journalist in Residence. Panelists/presenters will include:

• Melissa Davis, Vice President for Informed Communities, Gates Family Foundation
• JB Holston, Dean, College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Denver 
• Gregory Moore, CEO of Deke Digital and Denver Post Editor from 2002 to 2016 
• Mike Rispoli, News Voices Director, Free Press 
• Nancy Watzman, Executive Director, Colorado Media Project 
• Steven Zansberg, Senior Counsel for Ballard Spahr and President of Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition

The event is free, but space is limited. For more information and to register, go to:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/local-news-as-a-public-good-new-pathways-for-support-of-civic-journalism-tickets-71550931763