Clean Energy Resources Teams Clean Energy Projects: Ideas and
Examples Will Steger Summer Institute, Thursday, August 11 th, 2011
Slide 2 Our Mission Connecting you and your community with the
resources you need to identify and implement community-scale energy
efficiency and renewable energy projects
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 3 What Were All About
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org 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 Slide 4 How We Work: Our Teams
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org 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. Slide 5 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
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 6 Learn: Online Resources
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 7 Community Energy Groups
Photo from David Abasz Slide 8 Connect with resources!
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org 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 Slide
9 Act: VendingMisers www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org By installing
a VendingMiser on your machine, you can potentially reduce your
machines energy usage by as much as 46% and save up to $130 a year!
http://vendingmiser.mncerts.org Slide 10 Holiday Light Recycling
Slide 11 In the Regions Metro www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
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 Slide 12
In the Regions Southeast www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
Community, community, community: from Winona to Northfield, Mankato
to Red Wing Slide 13 In the Regions Southwest
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org 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 Slide 14 In the Regions
Central www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Entrepreneurship abounds:
RREAL, Solar Skies, Hunt Utilities Group, West Central Telephone
Association, Silent Power Slide 15 In the Regions West Central
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org As a farmer in Graceville, near
the University of MinnesotaMorris 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 Slide
16 In the Regions Northwest www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
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 Slide 17 In the
Regions Northeast www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org 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 Slide 18 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
http://www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org/
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 19 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 www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
Slide 20 MNSCC WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org Changing
Behaviors: Typically two types of thinking Rational Methodical
Thoughtful Automatic Effortless Simple
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 21 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org 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 Automatic: Cater to the Automatic
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 22 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
Rational: What is it? Appeal to Local Benefits Saving Energy Saving
money Clean air Clean water Wasting less Healthier people Healthier
ecosystems Reframe Rational: What is it?
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 23 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
Audience Know who it is! Appeal to their values Pride, energy
independence, youth empowerment, etc. Avoid making people feel
incompetent Its ok, this is new information for many people. With a
little time and practice, it will get easier. Avoid making people
feel like theyre losing autonomy Youre smart enough to decide which
choice is best and here are some great options. Audience: Know who
it is! www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 24 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
Give Feedback! Make hidden information visible Measure and post
success Use Kilowatt meters Give people an opportunity to show-off
Recognize and reward participants Give Feedback!
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 25 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
What Are Schools Doing? www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org What Are
Schools Doing? www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 26 MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
MNSCC WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org What Are Schools Doing?
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org Rosemount: Cooling our Heels Eden
Valley Watkins: Carbon Cutting Eagles Ortonville: Local
Environmental Focus Team Aitkin: Green Gobblers What Are Schools
Doing? www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 27 Rosemount: Cooling
our Heel Cooling our Heels will reduce the schools 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 Rosemount: Cooling our Heels
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 28 Rosemount: Major
Activities Action of the Month Vending Misers and KillAWatt
Redoubling Recycling efforts www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org
Rosemount: Major Activities www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide
29 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 Rosemount: Cooling our Heels
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 30 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/kA
YZ7519https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/kA YZ7519
1.75 MWh Produced so far! www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org Eden Valley
Watkins: Carbon Cutting Eagles www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org
Slide 31 How they did it! www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org Fundraising
$13,900 in just 2 years from grants alone! Organizing Educating How
they did it! www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 32 Fundraising
www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org 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! Fundraising
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 33 Organizing
www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org Lesson Learned: Find interests and get
group buy-in How? Creating student led teams organized around their
interests 1.Cabinet team (construction, installation) 2.Design team
3.Publicity team 4.Floating team (help stressed out groups!)
Organizing Students www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 34
Educating www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org 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 Educating
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 35 Ortonville Local
Environmental Focus Team Goals improve our environment improve our
schools 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 Ortonville
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 36 Ortonville How? Educating
our student body Weekly updates over the schools PA System
Recycling signs around school Presentations to our elementary
classes Involving as many students as possible
www.SchoolsCuttingCarbon.org Ortonville
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 37 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 Ortonville
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 38 School Projects: Aitkin
http://www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org/ Aitkin Public High Schools
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 Slide 39 MNSCC WEBSITE
www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org MNSCC
WEBSITE www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org www.schoolscuttingcarbon.org
What Can You Do? HomeSchools CFLs Programmable Thermostat Recycle
Compost Energy Audit Aerators Low flow showerheads Plastic over the
windows Bike, walk when possible Form an Energy Committee or
Sustainability Committee Kill-o-watt meters Recycling Shutting down
computers Vending Misers Project Green Fleet Bike/walk to school
day Revolving Loan Fund Benchmarking Get involved with CERTs!
Example: What Can You Do? www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 40
Mn Schools Cutting Carbon Slide 41 Connect with CERTs! Like CERTs
on Facebook to stay in the loop
http://facebook.com/cleanenergyresourceteams
http://facebook.com/cleanenergyresourceteams Follow CERTs on
Twitter to get timely updates http://twitter.com/mncerts
http://twitter.com/mncerts Sign up for CERTs email updates
http://updates.mncerts.org http://updates.mncerts.org
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Slide 42 For More Information
www.CleanEnergyResourceTeams.org Joel Haskard CERTs Co-Director U
of M RSDP [email protected] 612-625-8759
