Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Receives High Performance Energy Efficiency Award from NYSERDA

http://is.gd/2wiUw8

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recognized Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) with a High Performance Building Plaque for energy-saving investments that will reduce energy costs by $223,513 annually.

RPI’s construction of Phase I of its East Campus Athletic Village, a new basketball arena and stadium adjacent to the Houston Field House on the Troy campus, was supported by $404,491 in NYSERDA incentives, which leveraged $3.1 million in other investment. The project’s energy-efficiency improvements included high-efficiency lighting, demand control ventilation, variable speed drives on a cooling tower fan, fan motors and water pumps.

The energy savings—1,173,020 kilowatt hours—is equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by 170 single-family homes annually and will be realized by the institution every year for years to come.

The facility’s energy efficiency improvements will reduce energy consumption, decrease demands on the utility’s distribution system, increase occupant comfort and decrease the environmental impacts of the construction process.  The improvements also helped RPI achieve LEED Gold certification.
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NYSERDA High Performance Building Plaques are presented to hospitals, colleges and universities, schools, businesses and other organizations that have constructed or substantially renovated buildings to perform at least 30 percent above the New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code.  RPI’s East Campus Athletic Village is rated to perform 33 percent above code.

Plaques were also awarded in the Capital Region to Arbor Hill Branch and New Scotland Avenue Branch as these buildings are slated to perform 36.3 and 44.6 percent above code respectively.

Since 2009, NYSERDA has provided more than $1.8 million to help reduce electricity consumption by approximately 15.3 million kilowatt hours in 9 new construction projects throughout Rensselaer County - the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of nearly 2,228 single-family homes.

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) www.NYSERDA.org

Press Release dated January 19, 2012

Userful to Demo Ultra-Low-Cost School Computing Solution at BETT 2012

http://userful.com/press/bett-multiseat-linux

Userful, "the world leader in Linux desktop virtualization", will be demonstrating the next generation of their Userful MultiSeat™ solution which turns one Linux computer into multiple high performance independent computer stations using the HP t200 thin client device, a multiseat device that can be connected either via USB or Ethernet using Userful's software. Userful MultiSeat enables schools to deploy more than twice as many computers for the same cost, while enabling multiple users to use different applications at the same time from one host computer, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. The new product truly redefines the cost of a full featured high performance computer.

Userful MultiSeat enables schools to quickly deploy large numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the classroom, computer lab, or school library. It is easy to set up, use and maintain, and provides teachers with the tools they need to give their students a high quality computer-based education. It dramatically reduces electricity use, paying for the computers in power savings alone in 4 years or less, and reduces environmental heat, noise and pollution at the same time. It also reduces infrastructure costs, by requiring fewer cables and fewer electrical outlets, and enables schools to reinvest by starting new computer labs with the computers recovered as a result of a MultiSeat computing upgrade.

"Userful is shaping the future of economically and environmentally sustainable educational computing," said Tim Griffin, President of Userful. "We've already done the world's largest ever desktop virtualization deployment, and one of the largest digital inclusion initiatives in the world. Userful is the perfect solution for anyone who wants the benefits of desktop virtualization, without the price tag."

More than 50,000 schools worldwide are already using Userful MultiSeat to provide millions of students with computer access. Userful has proven to be the computer solution of choice for governments with digital inclusion mandates to provide school age children with computer access, on limited budgets. Countries such as Brazil, who have already successfully deployed over 500,000 Userful computer stations to schools in every municipality, have shown that with the combined cost savings of Userful MultiSeat, Linux, and open source software, it is feasible to provide every student with a comprehensive education using computers, regardless of whether they live in a city or a remote indigenous village with little infrastructure. The Brazilian Ministry of Education has reported saving 60% in up-front costs, and 80% in annual power savings as compared to their previous PC-per-station solutions.

Userful MultiSeat Linux allows each student to individually control their own computer station and applications. To the students, it seems like they each have their own dedicated computer. In reality they are all sharing the resources of a single host computer. It's high performance, and set up is Plug-And-Play. Ten students can engage in multiple activities such as watching a full-screen video, exploring Google Earth, conducting research on the internet or using a word processor. It is easy to add new computer stations and teachers can easily expand the number of stations in their lab or classroom in minutes. Since it's Linux based, hundreds of educational software applications are available at no charge, including classroom computer management software for teachers. Teachers also don't need to worry about downtime. In the event that a host computer fails, teachers can simply move (hot-swap) the station cable to one of the other computers in the lab/classroom and the students can resume working.

Every ministry of education worldwide is eligible for a free 90 day pilot so that educators can easily experience first hand the high performance, and ease of use of the solution.

To arrange a demo, meeting, or interview at BETT, please e-mail karl@userful.com, or phone +1.403.289.2177 x218

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
For more information, visit http://userful.com/products/userful-multiseat-linux

For more information on the HP t200 multiseat device, visit: HP t200 Product Information
http://userful.com/press/bett-multiseat-linux
Press Release dated January 3, 2011

Campus Microgrid Market to Reach $777 Million by 2017

http://www.pikeresearch.com/newsroom/campus-microgrid-market-to-reach-777-million-by-2017

Microgrids, which are pockets of distributed energy resources that can be isolated from the utility power grid, are the considered by many in the industry to be the ultimate example of energy democracy since they diversify the ownership of supply infrastructure.  Campus environments represent the largest sector for the global grid-connected microgrid market today.  Often the organizations that maintain campus-scale facilities – particularly educational institutions, but also including hospitals, the military, and some large corporations – manage energy in a comprehensive way, integrating within the confines of existing technology for on-site electric and thermal generation and loads.  Thus, the leap up to a microgrid configuration is the next logical step in achieving greater autonomy and control of energy futures for these financially secure enterprises.

According to a recent report from Pike Research, total installed generation capacity for campus microgrids will increase by 164% between 2011 and 2017, rising from 620 megawatts (MW) to 1.6 gigawatts (GW).  By the end of the forecast period in 2017, the cleantech market intelligence firm anticipates that the campus microgrid market will reach $777 million in annual revenue.

“The business case for campus environment microgrids revolves around classic value propositions of increased efficiency, greater reliability, and the potential for new revenue streams from the provision of ancillary grid services,” says senior analyst Peter Asmus.  “Current trends toward a more distributed energy future appear to make microgrids an inevitable augmentation of today’s centralized grid infrastructure.”

For a variety of reasons, Pike Research’s analysis concludes, the United States represents the best overall market for grid-connected microgrids for most application segments, including campus environments.  The ten-campus University of California (UC) system, for instance, has instituted a comprehensive energy policy that includes the goals of meeting 20% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2017, ensuring that 10% of its energy comes from locally generated clean sources by 2014, and reducing energy consumption by 10% by 2014 – all targets that make campus-based microgrids a logical step.  Under Pike Research’s average forecast scenario for campus microgrid deployment, the North American education campus environment segment will reach 1.2 GW by 2017, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.5% between 2011 and 2017.  Overall, in the same average scenario, the North American campus environment sector will reach 1.5 GW out of a world total of 1.6 GW – a market share greater than 95%.

Pike Research’s report, “Microgrids for Campus Environments”, examines current market dynamics, as well as the longer-term market potential, for campus microgrids in the commercial, education, government, healthcare, industrial and research campus application segments.  The study analyzes the demand-side dynamics that are driving increased interest in campus microgrids, the key enabling technologies for these systems, and the industry players who are shaping this emerging market.  Market forecasts for installed capacity and revenue are provided through 2017, segmented by world region and campus type. 

An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research www.PikeResearch.com
Press Release dated December 14, 2011

Getting Beneath the Veil of Effective Schools: Evidence from New York City

http://papers.nber.org/papers/w17632
Abstract: Charter schools were developed, in part, to serve as an R&D engine for traditional public schools, resulting in a wide variety of school strategies and outcomes. In this paper, we collect unparalleled data on the inner-workings of 35 charter schools and correlate these data with credible estimates of each school's effectiveness. We find that traditionally collected input measures -- class size, per pupil expenditure, the fraction of teachers with no certification, and the fraction of teachers with an advanced degree -- are not correlated with school effectiveness. In stark contrast, we show that an index of five policies suggested by over forty years of qualitative research -- frequent teacher feedback, the use of data to guide instruction, high-dosage tutoring, increased instructional time, and high expectations -- explains approximately 50 percent of the variation in school effectiveness. Our results are robust to controls for three alternative theories of schooling: a model emphasizing the provision of wrap-around services, a model focused on teacher selection and retention, and the "No Excuses'' model of education. We conclude by showing that our index provides similar results in a separate sample of charter schools.

by Will Dobbie and Roland G. Fryer, Jr
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) www.NBER.org
NBER Working Paper No. 17632; Issued in December 2011

$1 Billion Green Challenge Launches - Harvard, Stanford, Arizona State, and other leading universities commit $65 million to new energy efficiency financing initiative

http://greenbillion.org/launch/
To “Save Energy, Grow Money,” the Billion Dollar Green Challenge invites colleges, universities and other nonprofits to invest a total of one billion dollars in self-managed green revolving funds that finance energy efficiency upgrades.

The Challenge is inspired by the exceptional performance of existing green revolving funds, which have a median annual return on investment of 32%, as documented by Greening The Bottom Line, a report published by the Sustainable Endowments Institute.

A bright spot in a rocky economy, these profitable investments are helping create green jobs in campus communities, while lowering operating costs on college and university campuses.

“We’re transforming energy efficiency upgrades from perceived expenses to high-return investment opportunities,” said Mark Orlowski, executive director of the Sustainable Endowments Institute, which is coordinating The Challenge along with 15 partners.

The Billion Dollar Green Challenge launched publicly on October 11 at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference in Pittsburgh. With more than 2,500 participants, the conference is the largest gathering to date on higher education sustainability.
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In advance of the launch, 32 institutions have already joined The Challenge’s Founding Circle by committing to invest a cumulative total of more than $65 million in green revolving funds. In addition to Harvard, Stanford and ASU, other Founding Circle institutions include Caltech, Dartmouth, George Washington, Middlebury, the University of British Columbia, and Weber State University.

Several Founding Circle schools have already established funds and are enthusiastic about the benefits. Harvard’s Office for Sustainability Director Heather Henriksen said, “The Green Loan Fund has generated high returns on investment, while improving Harvard’s environmental impact and our bottom line.” Endowment investments, operating funds and alumni donations have all been used to establish green revolving funds at institutions across the country.

Guided by a 34-member expert advisory council, The Billion Dollar Green Challenge offers technical assistance, best practices sharing, access to an advanced web-based tool for managing green revolving funds, peer institutions’ project-specific data and invitations to specialized webinars and conferences.
At Stanford, Office of Sustainability Associate Director Fahmida Ahmed said, “Our fund has already financed over 200 small and large efficiency projects on campus, with an average simple payback period of just four years.”

The Billion Dollar Green Challenge has received financial support from the David Rockefeller Fund, HOK, John Merck Fund, Kresge Foundation, Merck Family Fund, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership, and the Wallace Global Fund.

Fifteen partner organizations have played a pivotal role in developing and launching The Challenge: American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment (ACUPCC), Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), Clean Air-Cool Planet, Clinton Climate Initiative, Earth Day Network, National Wildlife Federation Campus Ecology, Net Impact National Association of Environmental Law Societies, New England Board of Higher Education, Rocky Mountain Institute, Second Nature, United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Building Green Initiative, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership, and Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.
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On April 20, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership hosted a webinar on Greening the Bottom Line: How Campus Green Revolving Funds are Saving Energy and Money. This webinar explored the innovative approaches that some colleges and universities are taking to finance energy upgrades, demonstrated the trends uncovered in Greening the Bottom Line- a survey on active green revolving funds in the 2009-2010 year in North America, and delved first-hand into one college’s experience operating a green revolving fund. You can download the PDF and podcast here:
EPA Webinar on Greening the Bottom Line

Visit www.GreenBillion.org for more information. Press Release dated October 11, 2011
via/hat tip Susan Axelrod CPA http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=31251508&authType=name&authToken=rg0o&trk=sae_i_a_sd_spl

Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States

http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1103440
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Automobile exhaust contains precursors to ozone and fine particulate matter, posing health risks. Dependency on car commuting also reduces physical fitness opportunities.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify benefits from reducing automobile usage for short urban and suburban trips.

METHODS: We simulated census-tract level changes in hourly pollutant concentrations from the elimination of automobile round trips ≤ 8 kilometers in 11 metropolitan areas in the Upper Midwestern U.S. using the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) Model. Next, we estimated annual changes in health outcomes and monetary costs expected from pollution changes using EPA’s Benefits Mapping Analysis Program (BenMAP). In addition, we used WHO's Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) to calculate benefits of increased physical activity if 50% of short trips were made by bicycle. 

RESULTS: We estimate that annual average urban PM2.5 would decline by 0.1 µg/m3 and that summer O3 would increase slightly in cities but decline regionally, resulting in net health benefits of $3.5 billion/year (95% CI: $0.4–$9.8 billion), with 25% of PM2.5 and most O3 benefits to populations outside metropolitan areas. Across the study region of approximately 31.3 million people and 37,000 total square miles, mortality would decline by approximately 1,100 deaths/year (95% CI: 856 – 1,346) due to improved air quality and increased exercise. Making 50% of short trips by bicycle would yield savings of approximately $3.8 billion/year from avoided mortality and reduced health care costs (95% CI: $2.7 – $5.0 billion). We estimate that the combined benefits of improved air quality and physical fitness would exceed $7 billion/year. 

CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that significant health and economic benefits are possible if bicycling replaces short car trips. Less auto dependence in urban areas would also improve health in downwind rural settings.

by Maggie L. Grabow, Scott N. Spak, Tracey Holloway, Brian Stone Jr., Adam C. Mednick, Jonathan A. Patz Environmental Health Perspectives http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov
Received: 12 January 2011; Accepted: 05 October 2011; Online: 02 November 2011
via/hat tip National Public Radio (NPR) http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/11/02/141937325/secret-to-a-long-healthy-life-bike-to-the-store

EDF Climate Corps Unearths $650 Million in Energy Savings

http://www.edf.org/news/edf-climate-corps-unearths-650-million-energy-savings
On September 21, 2011 the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced the results of this summer’s EDF Climate Corps fellowships, which placed 96 specially-trained MBA and MPA students in 78 companies, cities and universities to sleuth out energy savings and carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions. Together, the 2011 Climate Corps fellows uncovered efficiencies in lighting, computer equipment, and heating and cooling systems that could:

• Cut 600 million kilowatt hours of electricity use and 27 million therms of natural gas annually, equivalent to the annual energy use of 38,000 homes;
• Avoid 440,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to the annual emissions of 87,000 passenger vehicles; and
• Save $650 million in net operational costs over the project lifetimes.

“In this economy, everyone is looking for ways to save, and energy efficiency is a huge, and largely untapped, opportunity,” said Victoria Mills, managing director of EDF’s Corporate Partnerships program. “EDF Climate Corps has shown once again the magnitude of cost savings and carbon pollution reductions available to organizations that know how to look for them.”

EDF created Climate Corps to cut carbon pollution by overcoming the barriers that prevent organizations from investing in energy efficiency. Now in its fourth year, EDF Climate Corps has grown from seven fellows in 2008 to 96 in 2011. To date, projects accounting for 86 percent of the energy savings identified by 2008-2010 fellows are complete or underway.

EDF Climate Corps fellows work with host organizations to capture immediate energy savings through equipment modifications and upgrades and also on strategic projects – such as employee engagement campaigns and decision-support tools – that deliver systemic and lasting reductions in energy use and carbon pollution.

• McDonald’s worked with Pia Jean Kristiansen, an EDF Climate Corps fellow and MBA candidate from the University of Michigan, to find creative ways to engage the company’s estimated 700,000 U.S. restaurant employees in energy efficiency initiatives.  Kristiansen’s work will result in an educational video developed to educate employees on ways to reduce an average restaurant’s energy consumption up to 10 percent.
• Neal Tsay, an EDF Climate Corps fellow and MBA candidate from UCLA, worked with sustainability leaders at Target to develop a plan to achieve its commitment to earn ENERGY STAR ratings for 75 percent of its U.S. buildings by 2015. Additionally, Tsay sought to improve energy efficiency in Target stores by proposing initiatives that could eliminate 50,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions each year and generate several million dollars in annual energy savings.

Buildings account for 70 percent of electricity consumption and more than a third of carbon pollution in the United States. Because opportunities to save energy are not limited to the private sector, EDF expanded Climate Corps in 2009 by placing fellows in cities and universities. "Cities, colleges and others can make smart energy investments just like companies," said Michael Regan, EDF director of energy efficiency. "The program is building a diverse movement to transform how people think about energy efficiency and make it a top priority for everyone who pays a utility bill."

• The New York City Housing Authority learned how to reduce annual heating costs by $58 million, thanks to a plan developed by EDF Climate Corps fellows Harrison Thomas and Amy Kochanowsky, who are working on degrees in business, environmental management and public policy at Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Their findings could cut the housing authority’s annual energy costs by 11 percent.
• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) University discovered it could save $2.5 million over the next five years by implementing the recommendations from EDF Climate Corps fellows LaKausha Simpson, a PhD candidate in engineering at A&T, and Jonathan Wilson, an MBA candidate at Wake Forest University. A&T's investments in energy efficiency measures, such as improved lighting, will pay for themselves in only three months.

See the full list of organizations participating in EDF Climate Corps and the energy-saving projects recommended in 2011. EDF Climate Corps is now recruiting fellows and host organizations for 2012. For more information, please visit edfclimatecorps.org or email info@edfclimatecorps.org. 

Environment Defense Fund  (EDF) www.EDF.org

Press Release dated September 21, 2011

Urban Density, Human Capital, and Productivity: An empirical analysis using wage data

http://ideas.repec.org/p/eti/dpaper/11060.html 
Numerous studies have indicated that densely populated cities enhance the productivity of workers through knowledge spillover and superior matching with employers in the labor market. This paper quantitatively analyzes the relationship among urban density, human capital, and wages by using micro data from the Basic Survey on Wage Structure for the years from 1990 to 2009. According to the estimation of standard wage functions augmented with population density, the agglomeration premium is larger for workers with higher observable skills such as education, tenure, and potential experience, which suggests rapid learning and superior matching in densely populated cities. Under structural changes such as a declining population and the trend toward a knowledge-based service economy, forming densely populated areas by facilitating the migration of workers has desirable effects throughout Japan on both individual wages and firm productivity.
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The major results can be summarized as follows:
(1) Simple raw elasticity of nominal wages with respect to municipal population density is about 0.08. After controlling for individual worker characteristics and firm size, this figure decreased to roughly 0.05. By further adjusting regional price disparities, the real wage elasticity becomes about 0.03. This figure is comparable with those found in previous studies.
(2) The agglomeration wage premium is larger for university graduates. This suggests that agglomeration economies and worker skills are complementary.
(3) The wage elasticity to density increases with the tenure of workers up to around 20 years. This result indicates that human capital accumulation through learning by experience within a firm is relatively large in establishments located in densely populated cities.
(4) The wage elasticity to density also increases with the potential experience of workers up to around 30 years of experience. This relationship is stronger for “non-standard employees” who experienced job changes than “standard employees” who served at a single firm for long time. This result suggests that, in addition to the learning effects, superior matching between workers and firms through labor turnover contribute to the urban wage premium.

The full paper is available free of charge at http://www.rieti.go.jp/jp/publications/dp/11e060.pdf.

by Masayuki Morikawa
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) www.rieti.go.jp
1-3-1, Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-8901 11th floor, Annex; Phone: +81-3-3501-1363, Fax: +81-3-3501-8577
July, 2011; 28 pages
via Research Papers in Economics (REPEC) www.REPEC.org

With Post-Its and Checklists, Schools Cut Their Energy Bills

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/education/15energy.html

Simple yellow Post-it notes with the message “When not in use, turn off the juice,” pointedly left on classroom computers, printers and air-conditioners, have helped the Mount Sinai School District on Long Island save $350,000 annually on utility bills.

Energy consumption in New York City’s 1,245 school buildings is down roughly 11 percent since 2008, as motion detectors have been installed on classroom lights and unused refrigerators and freezers have been unplugged for the summer.

In Yonkers, energy savings have financed $18 million in new boilers, windows and other capital improvements that the Westchester County district could not otherwise afford.

Schools, once known as energy wasters, are embracing conservation in increasing numbers. A desire to practice the environmentally friendly principles discussed in classrooms has been heightened by soaring energy costs and tighter budgets. With the help of a growing industry of energy consultants, school officials are evaluating every detail of their daily operations, like the temperature of the swimming pool and the amount of electricity the cafeteria ovens use, and are replacing energy-guzzling equipment with more efficient models.

Supporters say that even small adjustments can pay off almost immediately. “If we tested schools in efficient use of energy, many of them wouldn’t get a passing grade,” said C. David Myers, president of building efficiency for Johnson Controls, which has joined with 60 of the 125 school districts on Long Island to reduce energy use by 20 to 40 percent annually.

... More than two dozen states ... have used millions in federal stimulus money since 2009 to pay for energy programs and upgrades in school buildings, said Judy Marks, director of the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities in Washington. These efforts include replacing light fixtures, adding solar panels and building geothermal heating and cooling systems.

Some states have also started programs to finance school conservation efforts and to create local contracting jobs....  Oregon passed legislation in June to provide school districts with low-interest loans and grants for school efficiency improvements; Washington State started a similar grant-based program in 2009.

In some instances, districts like Mount Sinai have appointed an official energy manager — in its case, Chris Heil, ... to police hallways and classrooms to root out energy waste. Armed with yellow notes, he inspects 100 classrooms a day and “tickets” violators. Teachers have been known to run back to their classrooms when they see him coming. When one instructor refused to shut down his classroom computers at night, Mr. Heil sent him an e-mail calculating how much money was being wasted, and promised to share the next message with the superintendent.... Mr. Heil sometimes shows up at schools at 4 a.m. to make sure the custodial staff remembered to turn off the lights. He has rummaged through storage closets to locate switches to shut down rooftop exhaust fans that ran nonstop. Such vigilance has reduced the district’s utility costs by 30 percent since 2007, Mr. Heil said.

As part of the Bloomberg administration’s campaign to reduce the municipal government’s energy consumption and carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2017, the city awarded $100,000 in May to schools that voluntarily decreased their energy use in a monthlong competition. Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Campus in Manhattan won top honors with a 35 percent reduction. And this fall, rooftop solar panels are being installed on three school buildings.... Dennis M. Walcott, the city’s schools chancellor ... regularly checks on schools that he sees lighted up at night.

Many districts across the country have financed conservation efforts through so-called energy performance contracts with companies that advise them on how to be more energy-efficient and guarantee them specific savings, either in dollars or kilowatts. If the district’s actual savings fall short, the company writes a check to make up the difference.

With contracts involving equipment investments — which can be $50,000 to tens of millions of dollars ... districts typically use existing utility budgets or borrow money through third-party lenders, and then pay it back out of their immediate energy savings so that no budget increase is needed.

In Yonkers, the improvements included replacing Lincoln High School’s 60-year-old boilers, which guzzled 137,500 gallons of heating oil a year.... The new boilers burn only 80,000 gallons.

Three consultants — Johnson Controls, Trane and Energy Education — have reported that their school business has grown by at least a third since 2006. The companies send in engineers and specialists to conduct extensive audits of each district — Energy Education uses a checklist of 1,200 items — and then custom-design conservation programs. “Anything that consumes energy, natural gas or water is going to get evaluated,” said Larry Wash, Trane’s president of global services.

In New Jersey, the schools in Holmdel Township have lowered their electric and gas bills by about half since 2009, to $1 million annually..... That breaks down to 3.5 million fewer kilowatts of power and 240,000 fewer therms of heat a year.

William Balicki, Holmdel’s energy manager, said he kept a tight check on thermostats, and installed automatic timers on outdoor lights in bus yards and parking lots that once stayed on long after the drivers left.
Mr. Balicki also considered placing motion sensors on classroom lights, but instead settled for $75 worth of stickers to post above light switches as a reminder to flip them off.

...
by Winnie Hu
FOR FULL STORY GO TO:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/education/15energy.html
The New York Times www.NYTimes.com
August 15, 2011

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and North Side Community Federal Credit Union Train Financial Counselors on the Link between Living Green and Saving Green

http://tinyurl.com/6xyjdup
The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and the North Side Community Federal Credit Union recently sponsored a two-day “train the trainer” program for financial counselors to reduce their clients’ household expenses and environmental impact. The program, Equity Express, illustrates that economic and environmental sustainability go hand in hand.

“Despite the popular belief that living ‘green’ is only possible for upper-income households, CNT has consistently found in its research and programs that sustainable practices significantly decrease household expenditures on utility bills, transportation costs, and telecommunications services, to name a few,” said Steve Perkins, senior vice president at CNT. “Households can use sustainable practices to help them save towards goals like homeownership and higher education, while also reducing their environmental impacts. Equity Express shows them how.”

The 13 representatives from nine financial education and homeowner counseling organizations that attended the training can now use Equity Express to show their clients—often low- and moderate-income individuals—how making smart decisions about money has positive impacts for them and the earth. Previous Equity Express Workshop participants in the San Francisco Bay Area have decreased expenses from $20 to $200 per month.

“Our mission at the North Side Community Federal Credit Union is to provide affordable, alternative financial products and services to the community,” said Kristen Cox, Marketing and Community Relations Manager at the North Side Community Federal Credit Union. “We believe Equity Express will add depth to our financial literacy curriculum by providing a participatory and supportive, ongoing six-week class environment in which members learn from each other what best behavioral strategies really work.

Center for Neighborhood Technology www.CNT.org
Press release dated March 17, 2011