About Colorado Springs' Air Force Academy

Labor Day weekend serves as a reminder that the summer is over. The kids are back in school. College classes have started. It is kind of sad to realize that it is the end of summer.

That is until you think about sports.

For anyone that loves college football, this is the BEST time of the year. For those that don’t, it is certainly helpful to know the football schedule so that you can avoid getting caught in the football traffic.

Colorado Springs is the home of the United States Air Force Academy. The cadets participate in all kinds of sports. Click on the following link for all of their sports calendars and ticket prices

Their football calendar represents an exciting line up. Today, they are playing South Dakota at noon here in Colorado Springs. Football ticket prices start at $10. Tickets to the Air Force versus Army game are still available. They start at $18. Buy tickets.

As a proud Aggie '94, I must include a link to Texas A&M's football schedule. I may not be there physically, but my heart is: Texas A&M Football Schedule

Solar Power Plant opens at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs CO

One of the wonderful results of the controversial American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA ~ also commonly called The Stimulus Package), is that an $18.3 Million grant was awarded to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs CO to build a Six Megawatt Solar Power Plant. They broke ground in November of 2010, and the plant became functional in April of 2011.

The AFA enlisted the aid of the Colorado Springs Utilities, who in turn hired SunPower Corp. to design and oversee the construction of the facility. The solar panels have a high efficiency SunPower solar tracking system. They follow the arc of the sun during the day at the peak, most expensive, highest power usage time at the Academy. The tracking system is estimated to increase the capture of sunlight by 25% over conventional solar panels.

This exciting project meets the AFA state-of-the art design standards in engineering, and many of the Air Force Academy’s 4,400 Cadets were able to work on this project. They were instrumental in such areas as determining logical, logistical placement sites, researching cyclical wave energy, and helping to keep up-to-the-minute with improvements in photovoltaic technology.

There are so many benefits to this particular design by SunPower. It reduces the amount of standard land usage for the panels. They only require an area of 30 acres on the 18,000 acre Air Force Academy site. Thirty percent of their power will be supplied by these panels over the upcoming years.

There are new government regulations that federal facilities must increase their use of renewable energy, and this is a huge step for the Academy in that direction. They have a Net Zero Initiative, which is an holistic approach to dealing with water, energy, and waste on the Academy grounds. The goal is to have each installation be completely self-sustainable in this era of turmoil.

The plan of the Colorado Springs Utilities is that 20% of its energy will be produced thru renewable sources by the year 2020, and this endeavor of the AFA will go a long way in helping them to accomplish this goal. The solar panels are expected to generate the equivalent of powering 1,200 average-sized homes per year.

Long ranked among the Environmental Protection Agency’s top ‘green’ power purchasers, the goal of the Net Zero Initiative would allow the Air Force Academy to generate 100% of their power from renewable sources by the year 2020. Currently they are at 11%, and with the implementation of the new system expect to increase that to 25% in the near future.

In addition to saving more than $1 Million per year in energy costs, some of the other resulting benefits of this project included creating local jobs in Colorado Springs. It will reduce the Academy’s demand for fossil fuels. It will improve the air quality in the Colorado Springs area by the equivalent of removing the carbon dioxide emissions of 40,900 cars from the local highways (approximately 9,400 tons each year).

Because the ARRA paid all of the costs up front for the construction and maintenance of the panels, the Air Force Academy will receive their electricity at no cost throughout the lifetime of the facility. SunPower will maintain the upkeep. The AFA has 20 to 40 additional acres set aside for similar ventures as the money becomes available.

I live within a mile of the Air Force Academy, and I have always figured that if everyone loses power, we can just walk up there . . . mmmmm . . . probably wouldn't let us in . . .

Solar Power Plant at Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs was written by Mimi Foster

And for those of you who have been waiting for the follow up to What Realtors Do for Buyers, the next installment, What Realtors Do for Sellers, should be posted later today. Watch for it . . .

In his book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," Stephen Covey says to "Begin with the end in mind." In other words, plan.

Consider the planning that went into the design of Colorado's top man made attraction - the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. Completed in 1963, the award winning structure which is in Colorado Springs, is a National Landmark despite mixed reviews.

Think about Walter Netsch, the architect's, vision. Did Mr. Netsch consider the big picture first or the little picture? Did he work forward or backward?

Did he think about how the chapel would blend into the Air Force Academy campus first? Or, did he first imagine the sun shining through stained glass windows during a church service?

The following is an excerpt from a New York Time's article:

"When the building was completed in 1963, the first response of architects and architectural critics was less robust than that of tourists. Some said the chapel recalled upended fighter wings and that worshiping there was like going to church in a B-52. Adjectives like "graceless" abounded." http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/arts/design/17netsch.html

Even today, reactions to the chapel are mixed.

This architect's vision resulted in a structure of enduring structure of interest and function.

What will your visions lead to?

Photographed,

written and posted by

Sondra Meyer CPA/Real Estate Broker

Star View Ranch, Real Estate & Financial Advisory Services

979-575-2700

Colorado Spring Real Estate - Northgate

Market Report, Single Family Homes

Close to Air Force Academy Includes Wildwood, GlenEagle, Flying Horse

Search for homes in Northgate area of Colorado Springs

Zip Codes: 80921

The Northgate housing market continues to be a BUYERS Market, as there is currently an 7 month of supply of homes on the market. A 6 month supply of houses on the market is considered a "BUYERS MARKET". Sales units in 2010 were up 26% from 2009, and 2010 pricing was also up 5% from 2009. Average days on market has increased and is now at 113 days.

Recap of 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004

Current Report as of 1-6-10 in Northgate

• Active listings: 177
• Absorption Rate: 25.3 homes per month

This Colorado Springs Real Estate report contains information on Single Family homes in Northgate

This information is taken from the Pikes Peak Realtor Services Corp and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com