Project: Energy Use in Orono Schools
Background:
Energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions are the twin challenges for all organizations. Schools are in a unique position since they have an educational role as well as a being a cost sensitive customer. This group will develop a method which will help schools prioritize expenditures on energy efficiency and communicate to their students the process for reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Two approaches will be taken, ignoring subsidies from other programs (such as Efficiency Maine) and an approach which includes subsidies for certain expenditures. The state has done this work, but an example of a systematic analysis of a school is needed. This analysis will make use of the Orono schools as a model system, one which has at least the usual level of energy inefficiencies. The school has also undertaken investments in windows and other improvements without a comprehensive plan for savings, in a building with abysmal temperature control. It is critical that this group makes use of the state of the art approach (as shown by http://maine.gov/dep/air/globalwarming/ghgschools.htm) , and then advances the techniques based on sound engineering principles.
Deliverables
1. Overview of energy costs for the Orono Public Schools
2. Review of methods available for evaluating the energy costs for the school
3. Model of cost savings for a range of modifications and associated investment
4. Return on investment for changes
5. Sources of funding, internal and external, for changes including grants and discounts
6. Final presentation of planning documents to the Orono School Committee
7. Web page for methodology and discussion with at least two other school committees in Maine
Draft Milestones
# Project Team Selection Complete: September 4, 2008
# First Revised Milestones Submitted: September 11, 2008
# Design Notebook Initial sign-off: September 16, 2008
# Energy cost results available for Orono Schools with summary: September 16, 2008
# Experimental design complete for buildings systems including temperature data loggers and tests of building systems: October 2, 2008
# Completion of infrastructure proposal for data logging, and instrumentation for building inspections: October 16, 2008
# First web page goes live with introductory page and menu on left. Page must include resumes, individual photos and milestones: October 14, 2008, 2 pm.
# Milestone review: November 4th , 2008
# On-site testing of building systems complete for at least one of the Orono School Buildings, including temperature data and potential sources of heat loss November 6, 2008
# Draft report for review of energy savings in Orono, with costs of modifications and potential savings: November 20, 2008
# Draft Midterm Report: December 9th , 2008
# Midterm Report due as a PDF posted as a completed web page: December 18th, 11:30 am
# Cost survey including programs for assistance in cost savings for schools:
# Complete second of two presentations on energy savings approach to Maine school committees. March 12, 2009
# Lab Cleanup & Infrastructure Project Completed: Maine Day, April 29, 2009
# Open House -- Review of Projects, April 30, 2009, Afternoon
# Final Web Page submitted, for review during final exam period: Monday May 6th, 2009 Noon,