Crescent Valley Sustainable School Initiative
2009-2010: The Energy Challenge (reduce CV electricity use)
Overview
Part I: Initiating the Challenge
To be completed and turned in no later than November 6.
Document everything!
Maintain an electronic version of everything your group does.
1. Visit your area on campus and meet the teachers and other staff members with whom you will be working this year. I have sent an email to all staff, so they will be expecting you soon. Record the date (s), time (s), and specific information you talked about. Share with the staff the tips for reducing electricity use, as provided below. If you have additional ideas for saving energy, please share them with your staff members and record them.
Group Assignments and Area Contacts
Background and Tips for Reducing Energy Use
2. Conduct the first audit of your area, using the spreadsheets provided (Spreadsheets). If you need a map of your area, see below. Make modifications and additions to these as necessary. Record information about the status of how electricity is used in your area. Remember that this includes not only the classrooms, but hallways, bathrooms and offices. Pay attention especially to empty rooms with the lights on, or places with electronics left on but not in use. Check for power strips in classrooms, and find out if there are any teachers in your area that would like power strips but don’t have them.
3. Record and prioritize ideas for reducing electricity use in your area based on this initial walk-through. One idea for classrooms and hallways is to reduce the number of light switches that are “on”. We can use the blue or green painter’s tape to tape down the switches. There must be effective and repeated communication to staff and students about what the tape is for, so develop a communication strategy for taping switches if you decide to take this action. I have some ideas for signs that can be placed near hallway switches and for the switches in rooms.
4. Develop and record an action plan for your area. Share it with the staff members, and get their agreement to work on the plan. The action plan must include a weekly visit to your area.
5. We will likely do an Advisor presentation during this time, to inform students about the Challenge. More details will come later.
*If you would like to see some other ideas on this project, visit the document put together by the state of Washington -
Energy Challenge/Cool School .pdf
Part II: Implementing the Challenge – Stage 1 (50 points)
To be completed and turned in no later than January 28.
NOTE: Please use the following format for all future reports. Thank you!
Part I: Log
Walk-Through Number
Date
Day of the Week
Time
Locations with observations/documentation
*Halls
*Common areas
*Offices
*Classrooms
Record data every time you complete a walk-through (a minimum of once a week, between Nov. 6 and Jan. 28 should be at least 10 entries). What did you observe? This section will supplement the spreadsheet information.
"Walk-Through #5
November 25, 2009
Wednesday
11:30
Main Hall: All lights on
Library: All lights on"
Record all contacts with staff, whether they are in person, via email, etc. (a minimum of once per month, Nov., Dec., and Jan, at least 3 entries). Who did you talk to and what did you discuss?
"Teacher Contact # 2
November 30, 2009
Monday
1:00
On this visit, 5 items were plugged in. Teacher asked for a power strip."
Part II: Spreadsheets
Energy vampires
Lighting
Label each form by area, room number/teacher name, hall, etc.
Modify these forms to reflect the walk-through you are recording (by date). No post-challenge data yet – that will be the last entry. You can start with the modification below.
Modified Spreadsheet for Energy Challenge
Try to record as much quantitative data as possible. You want to be able to monitor and measure progress (number of lights turned off, computers in sleep mode when not being used, etc.). You will be generating tables and graphs from your collected data.
Other requests:
Maintain an electronic version of everything your group does.
1. Establish and record the schedule your group will use to monitor your area. Use some sort of energy use audit form. You may modify the form provided. The schedule should include at least one visit to your area per week. You may or may not talk with the staff on every visit.
2. Use your energy audit form to record your observations. Develop and implement some method for sharing your weekly observations with staff (email might be the easiest).
3. Check in with your staff members a minimum of once in November (after November 6th), once in December and once in January to discuss progress.
4. Share monthly electricity use data that you are given from the district office with your staff members. Develop a communication plan for this, and let your staff know the plan.
*You may want to show the amount of energy a device pulls even when it is off but still plugged in.
*If you have not already done so, find out if there is a need for more power strips.
*If it seems consistently too warm or too cool in some of your areas, borrow a thermometer from Mrs. Granados in F73 and measure temperatures.
Part III: Implementing the Challenge – Stage 2
To be completed and turned in no later than April 9.
Document everything!
Maintain an electronic version of everything your group does.
1. Continue with your action plan of weekly energy audits. Modify as needed.
2. Check in with your staff members a minimum of once in February, once in March and once in April (before April 9th). Record the dates and times as well as what was discussed.
3. Write a draft of your group’s final report (expectations and format provided).
(Note: This report should include a total kWh reduction so far for the school (i.e., the sum of all the reductions since September). You will also need to determine the total CO2 equivalent reduction. I mention it here because it will require some research to determine a meaningful conversion between kWh and CO2 for our specific electricity provider.)
Part IV: Final Steps (100 points)
To be completed and turned in no later than June 8.
Document everything!
Maintain an electronic version of everything your group does.
1. Continue with your action plan of weekly energy audits. Modify as needed.
2. Check in with your staff members a minimum of once in April (after April 9th) once in May and a final check in before June 8. Record the dates and times as well as what was discussed.
3. Write your group’s final report (expectations and format provided).
4. Make a power point presentation about your project. These will be presented in class in early June.