Energy Efficiency Case Studies
February is not only the start of the semester at Macalester College, but also the campus’ energy-themed month. Suzanne Savanick Hansen and her crew of sustainability students hit the ground running this winter with workshops and a host of new resources for the campus community.
This program was designed to combat the two key shortcoming of existing energy efficiency programming. They are: (1) the low level of implementation of energy-saving actions (found in both residential audits and strictly educational programs) and (2) the low number of participants in most conservation programs. To address poor implementation, the home...
It’s difficult to get teenagers to clean their room, much less take on a project, but that’s just what the students at Northfield School of Arts and Technology (ARTech) did. ARTech is a charter school in Northfield, Minnesota, comprised of talented students in grades 6-12. The first time the school received a grant from the SE CERTs, it was for an...
With a vast agricultural industry and resources spread over fields and acres, how do you measure the true renewable energy resources of Minnesota? The Agricultural Utilization Research Institute and partners in Southern MN have been working on populating a template to capture the renewable energy potential of their communities.
The Bakken, Minneapolis’ museum of Electricity in Life, is devoted to educating the public about the role of electricity in our lives. Their exhibits cover every aspect of electricity from our own brain function to the inner workings or our televisions. Since its founding in the 1970s the mission has been to “inspire a passion for science and its...
How do you help new homeowners financially beyond the initial purchase of their homes? One approach is to renovate the homes with energy use and operating costs in mind. Now the question becomes what is the best use of limited renovation funds? City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT), a nonprofit in Minneapolis committed to providing housing for...
Keeping costs low is a constant concern for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Nonprofits might be excluded from having to pay taxes, but they don’t escape energy costs just like every other business. In fact, since nonprofits tend to struggle with cashflow, investing in energy efficiency can be more difficult for them than for their for-profit...
The light bulb is considered one of the greatest inventions of all time. It extended our day, made streets brighter and safer, and allowed more time for leisurely activities.
What would you do with an extra $192 in your pocket? For some, that might be a gap in money for food or for medicine. $192 is the average annual savings in energy costs of Saint Paul homeowners who received a Home Energy Squad visit where trained crews installed energy efficient materials in their homes.
Part of the challenge of teaching is getting students involved and excited about the material they are learning. As science, and especially learning about alternative energy sources becomes more important in today’s world, it is more vital than ever that students are learning about renewable energy sources.
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