Energy Savings Opportunities; Call for Participants in Carbon Footprint Survey

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: 35
POLICY CODE: ECF

TO: Superintendents of Schools
FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner
DATE: October 6, 2009
RE: Energy Savings Opportunities; Call for Participants in Carbon Footprint Survey

I am passing along the following information as potential opportunities to save money.

SCHOOL SELF AUDIT GUIDE

With guidance from Efficiency Maine audit consultants, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has compiled a highly useful School Self Audit Guide that you can use to identify immediate energy savings opportunities in your school building. EFFICIENCY FIRST is the mantra for anyone thinking of exploring renewable energy options like wind, solar or other money-saving investment down the road.

Click here to check out this NEW online tool: http://www.maine.gov/dep/air/greenschools/schoolNRGselfauditguide.htm

FREE CARBON FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS – TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS (SAUs)

Wanted: SAUs to Participate in Maine’s 2009/10 School GHG Energy Use Survey (aka Carbon Footprint survey).

Why: Identify, prioritize and receive incentives for money-saving energy strategies in schools.

Who: Building Facility Managers or Business Managers responsible for Energy Management.

When: Contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection now to get started saving energy, money and to qualify for special financial incentives.

What: Maine Green Schools’ Greenhouse Gas Energy Use Survey is about to begin its third year of service to Maine schools. This survey is a collaboration between Maine Department of Environmental Protection (MDEP) and Maine Energy Education Program (MEEP). All it takes is to send them copies of your energy bills for the past year.

With that data, they will provide you with a report that:

Calculates greenhouse gas emission by source and square foot,
Calculates energy use per square foot and occupant,
Compares the schools in the SAU to help prioritize energy conservation measures,
Compares each of the SAUs schools to a statewide average, calculated through a Maine Department of Education survey,
Compares each of the SAUs buildings to other buildings across the country, using EPA’s Portfolio Manager Software, and
Identifies possible energy saving opportunities in the SAUs school buildings.

Once the SAU’s survey is completed, additional incentives may be available to SAUs to save energy and money in the SAU’s schools. There is limited minigrant funding again this year for up to ten schools to follow this up with an energy audit by Efficiency Maine, Building Operator Certification (BOC) Training, or a modest energy efficiency upgrade to participating schools. Participating schools may also request to have a DEP/MEEP staff person visit a school with their infrared camera to identify heat loss issues in a building envelope.

In 2009, nine schools received minigrants with which: 5 school buildings were audited, 2 employees were sent to the BOC Training, and 2 school lighting upgrades were completed. Also, 5 school officials opted to have a DEP/MEEP person come with the infrared camera. See which schools participated last year: www.maine.gov/dep/air/greenschools/ghgschool.htm

This is a completely free service with financial rewards (while funding lasts) for participation! To get started, contact Beth Otto at beth.otto@maine.gov or 207-287-6096.

Beth Otto, Carbon Footprint Educator
Maine Energy Education Program
Maine DEP - Bureau of Air Quality
207-287-6096