Fort Collins’ UniverCity focus area, encompassing the CSU campus, Old Town, and the downtown river corridor, is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of our nation’s new energy economy. We will be known as leaders – with many of the nation’s experts on renewable energy theory and practice living and working in the UniverCity District. We’re calling this FortZED for Zero Energy District.

FortZED has been one of the most successful UniverCity Connections initiatives, having raised over $500,000 from local donors, secured a U.S. Department of Energy grant that will  bring $11.2 million in funding, and obtained partnership from the Northern Colorado Clean Energy Cluster and Fort Collins Utilities. Most recently, FortZED announced the formation of a Green Restaurant Initiative in July 2008, developed as a community program to help restaurants implement energy conservation and efficiency practices. Energy savings directly affect monthly bills, while sustainable business practices also appeal to the consumers in our community.

FortZED is targeting restaurants because they have the potential to realize substantial cost savings and a quick return on investment from implementing energy conservation and efficiency practices. In addition, restaurants are the perfect staging ground for raising community awareness of the FortZED initiative.