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It is the Mission of the Independent Bankers of Colorado to enhance and promote strong, profitable, independent community banks; advance common legislative and regulatory concerns; provide a forum that promotes ideas, relationships and communication of common objectives. It is our Mission to serve and promote our communities throughout Colorado.  Members of the Independent Bankers of Colorado include any state or national bank, industrial bank, savings and loan association, savings bank or trust company dedicated to the preservation of an independent banking systems that is located in Colorado or in states continguous or within reasonable proximity to Colorado, as the IBC Board of Directors approves for active voting members.  We also have non-voting associate members who include any person, firm or corporation approved by the IBC Board of Directors for associate membership.



IBC and EPA's ENERGY STAR® Challenge

IBC is committed to energy conservation through its ENERGY STAR Challenge. Community banks across the country participate in the joint initiative with the Environment Protection Agency. Through the program, community banks can reduce utility costs by an average of $3,500 per year per bank location.
ENERGY STAR is best known as a label for products meeting energy efficiency guidelines. But the program also identifies superior energy performance standards for commercial and industrial buildings and reducing energy consumption by 10 percent.  This initiative offers you data, tools, and strategies to implement cost-effective retrofitting and new construction strategies involving energy efficient lighting, climate controls, equipment, and building design, and improved energy practices and technologies. They can be used for a new bank location or to retrofit an old one.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE.  ENERGY STAR offers easy-to-use tools to get you started. Begin saving money on energy costs with one of two ways: Portfolio Manager and Sure Savers.

PORTFOLIO MANAGER.  Assess your energy use and costs by registering with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, an online database that helps banks to track their before-and-after energy usage and benchmark community bank numbers against other community banks. You'll be eligible for national recognition from the EPA. Your energy use data is confidential and not accessible by EPA. Learn how to benefit from Portfolio Manager by reviewing the ENERGY STAR website for energy saving tips and tools for benchmarking energy use.

SURE SAVERS.  Sure Saver allows you to use energy-and cost-saving tips without registering and tracking with Portfolio Manager. Banks using Sure Saves are not eligible for recognition because savings and use cannot be measured.  Implement easy-to-use tools with Sure Savers Steps. Most businesses achieve a 10 percent reduction in energy use and cost by following the steps noted.

ENERGY STAR SMALL BUSINESS NETWORK.  Continue receiving energy-saving tips as well as demonstrate your commitment to improving the energy efficiency of your community bank by signing up for the ENERGY STAR Small Business Network. Receive the monthly ENERGY STAR e-update, access an informational hotline and make use of the ENERGY STAR promotional logo.

RECOGNITION.  The EPA recognizes community banks that improve energy efficiency by 10 percent. Based on results from EPA's national energy performance rating system, ENERGY STAR Leaders recognition is provided for the following achievements: Portfolio-wide reductions in normalized energy use of 10 percent, 20 percent, 30 percent or more; and an average energy performance rating of 75 or better portfolio-wide

HOW TO HELP YOUR CUSTOMERS.  The EPA understands that community banks keep our nation's communities vital by growing our towns and cities, funding small businesses, and helping families secure a financial future. Giving small business customers user-friendly, energy and cost savings tools allows community banks to better serve your customers.  Take the challenge and promote the program to your customers.