Clean Energy Resources Teams Clean Energy Projects: Ideas and Examples Will Steger Summer Institute, Thursday, August 11

1. Clean Energy Resources Teams Clean Energy Projects: Ideas and Examples Will Steger Summer Institute, Thursday, August 11th, 2011

2. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Our Mission Connecting you and your community with the resources you need to identify and implement community-scale energy efficiency and renewable energy projects

3. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org What We’re All About • Bringing people together to create change: • Conservation, efficiency and renewable energy are something most folks can agree upon • Everyone can take some action NOW • Individual actions can scale up – to businesses, communities and beyond

4. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org How We Work: Our Teams • Steering Committees: one per region; governing body for regional team. • Regional Teams: anyone can join, anytime • Team members have broad range of backgrounds, interests, skills • Regions have unique interests based on the energy potential in the region. • All conduct education and outreach around energy efficiency, renewable energy, and how people can make a difference in their own communities.

5. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org What do we do? • Host meetings, workshops, networking sessions • Write case studies, project planning guides and people profiles • Connect people to technical resources and assistance • Provide seed grant funding & connections to funding opportunities • Help organizing your community • www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org • Spur other statewide programs

6. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Learn: Online Resources

7. Community Energy Groups Photo from David Abasz

8. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Connect… with resources! • CERT Seed Grant Funding • In four funding rounds (2006-2010): over 100 projects! • Range from community energy efficiency projects to an on-farm oil press and community wind feasibility studies… and EVERYTHING in between

9. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Act: VendingMisers By installing a VendingMiser on your machine, you can potentially reduce your machine’s energy usage by as much as 46% and save up to $130 a year! http://vendingmiser.mncerts.org

10. Holiday Light Recycling

11. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Metro Neighborhood Energy Service Workshops in St. Paul: Education & an IMMEDIATE sign up for a home visit to receive discounted materials! 1592 homes signed-up; saving avg. of $192/home

12. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Southeast • Community, community, community: from Winona to Northfield, Mankato to Red Wing

13. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Southwest • Youth Energy Summit (YES!) involves teams of youth – 8-10 people per team – from local schools and community groups to engage in energy issues and tackle a project of their choice in their home community

14. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Central • Entrepreneurship abounds: RREAL, Solar Skies, Hunt Utilities Group, West Central Telephone Association, Silent Power

15. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – West Central • “As a farmer in Graceville, near the University of Minnesota–Morris campus, I see the opportunities wind development brings to area farmers and citizens like me when I drive by the wind turbine on the Morris campus.” • Chuck Walters

16. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Northwest • Northern Excellence: seed growers/processors who work together to grow seed… now collaborating to build a biomass gasifier to process waste seed hulls • Crookston: Mobile Coldpress for canola and sunflowers to extract oil for fuel and/or food use

17. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org In the Regions – Northeast • Energy Efficient Ely (E3): group of local business owners; engage on energy efficiency. • Partner with local utility for commercial lighting rebate program. • Driven by collaboration among MMUA, Energy Smart, CERTs and local champions

18. http://www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org/ www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon • 100 public high schools, colleges & universities • From Stephen-Argyle Central High School in the Northwest Corner to Spring Grove Public School in the Southeast • Saved 2-3% energy per school, $400,000 annual savings

19. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Program Overview What is Schools Cutting Carbon? • Three Year Project – July 2008 – June 2011 • 100 Minnesota high schools, colleges, and universities • Engaged student leadership • Measurable energy savings and $ expended Why Focus on Schools? • Working with future leaders • Large potential savings – schools spend as much on energy as textbooks ! • 20 % of a community are its students and teachers

20. Changing Behaviors: Typically two types of thinking Changing Behaviors: Two Type of Thinking www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Rational • Methodical • Thoughtful • Automatic • Effortless • Simple

21. Automatic: Cater to the Automatic www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Make the energy wise option the default • Automatic light sensors, computer settings • Prompts remind the automatic system • Make the rational, energy-saving actions the norm • ‘More and more people are carrying reusable water bottles’

22. Rational: What is it? Rational: What is it? www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Appeal to Local Benefits • Saving Energy • Saving money • Clean air • Clean water • Wasting less • Healthier people • Healthier ecosystems • Reframe

23. Audience: Know who it is! Audience Know who it is! www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Appeal to their values • Pride, energy independence, youth empowerment, etc. • Avoid making people feel incompetent • ‘It’s ok, this is new information for many people. With a little time and practice, it will get easier.’ • Avoid making people feel like they’re losing autonomy • ‘You’re smart enough to decide which choice is best and here are some great options.’

24. Give Feedback! Give Feedback! www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Make hidden information visible • Measure and post success • Use Kilowatt meters • Give people an opportunity to show-off • Recognize and reward participants

25. What Are Schools Doing? What Are Schools Doing? www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org

26. What Are Schools Doing? What Are Schools Doing? www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org • Rosemount: Cooling our Heels • Eden Valley Watkins: Carbon Cutting Eagles • Ortonville: Local Environmental Focus Team • Aitkin: Green Gobblers

27. Rosemount: Cooling our Heels www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Rosemount: Cooling our Heel “Cooling our Heels” will reduce the school’s carbon footprint 11% by June 2011 • Total reduction of 332 tons of CO2 • MN Energy Challenge • 279 team members pledged to save 2.8 million pounds CO2 No cost solutions • Behavior changes “Action of the Month” • Energy Rangers monitor lights on/off and leave stickers Low cost solutions –quick payback (one year or less) • Powerstrips, weather stripping, teacher Moodle training, Papercut software www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

28. Rosemount: Major Activities www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Rosemount: Major Activities • Action of the Month • Vending Misers and KillAWatt • Redoubling Recycling efforts www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

29. Rosemount: Cooling our Heels www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Rosemount: Cooling our Heel Example: RHS Action of The Month- Irish Pride In Action Hike it or Bike it! • Walk, bike, take the bus, rollerblade, skateboard to school • Save money, Burn calories, Reduce stress • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions • Help lower our carbon footprint www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

30. Eden Valley Watkins: Carbon Cutting Eagles www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Eden Valley Watkins: Carbon Cutting Eagles A Solar Success Story! • Goal to design, fundraise, and implement a solar project • https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/kAYZ7519 • 1.75 MWh Produced so far! www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

31. How they did it! www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org How they did it! • Fundraising • $13,900in just 2 years • from grants alone! • Organizing • Educating www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

32. Fundraising www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Fundraising Goal: Earn the respect of the local business community How? • Only asked for donations from business related to their project • Asked for material donations • NEVER asked for cash donations! • Recognition! www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

33. Organizing Students www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Organizing Lesson Learned: Find interests and get group buy-in How? Creating student led teams organized around their interests • Cabinet team (construction, installation) • Design team • Publicity team • Floating team (help stressed out groups!) www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

34. Educating www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Educating School Education Efforts • Student designed curriculum incorporating the solar system into the classroom • Solar Kiosk at the front entrance (TV / website) Public Education Efforts • Green Fair • Attended by 80 people • Unveiling of solar pv system and tracking system • Meeker Coop presented on energy efficiency • Additional Community Education Events • Two events through out the year on solar and efficiency www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

35. Ortonville www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Ortonville Local Environmental Focus Team Goals • improve our environment • improve our school’s reducing, reusing, and recycling habits , educate others about recycling and reducing energy usage • raise public awareness of our efforts • save our school money and reduce our carbon footprint www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

36. Ortonville www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Ortonville How? • Educating our student body • Weekly updates over the school’s PA System • Recycling signs around school • Presentations to our elementary classes • Involving as many • students as possible www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

37. Ortonville www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Ortonville How Continued! • Computer Shut-Down by programming computers to shut down after extended periods of inactivity • free on-line software recommended by our local utility company • 667 computers in the school, making sure they were all shut down results in $540 of annual savings www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org

38. http://www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org/ School Projects: Aitkin • Aitkin Public High School’s “Gobblers • Go Green” initiatives built off of ERM walk-through include: • Energy efficient lighting – in the gym and in exit signs • Occupancy sensors • Transportation Study – to increase carpooling for students and staff

39. Example: What Can You Do? What Can You Do? www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org MNSCC WEBSITE –www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org

40. Mn Schools Cutting Carbon

41. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Connect with CERTs! • Like CERTs on Facebook to stay in the loophttp://facebook.com/cleanenergyresourceteams • Follow CERTs on Twitter to get timely updateshttp://twitter.com/mncerts • Sign up for CERTs email updateshttp://updates.mncerts.org

42. www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org For More Information Joel Haskard CERTs Co-Director U of M RSDP haska004@umn.edu 612-625-8759