SRC NEWSLETTERInside This Edition |
First SRC Orientation Training Held May 10
The Southeast Rebuild Collaborative (SRC) Orientation Training, presented by SRC Program Manager Julio Rovi, Project Manager Keith Dennis, and Communications Lead Rebekah Dyer, was held on May 10. It focused on the benefits of SRC membership, no-cost federal and regional resources available to improve energy performance, and strategies to reach the SRC's overarching goal of reducing energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases in the Southeast region. The trainers also reviewed SRC's specific goals to (1) directly influence 900 schools and 300 institutions to promote a culture of energy efficiency and establish best management practices, and (2) transform 10 percent of the organizations influenced—indicated by at least one building upgrade project that demonstrates best energy efficiency design and practices. Download the Orientation Training (PPT).
19 College & University Presidents in SRC States Sign Climate Commitment
The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) was developed by Second Nature, ecoAmerica, and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) to formalize an effort toward climate neutrality by institutions of higher learning. Since the Commitment's inception in October 2006, more than 300 presidents and chancellors of our nation's colleges and universities have signed the commitment, strengthening their institutions' support for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the integration of sustainability on each campus. The commitment involves developing a comprehensive climate neutrality plan, completing tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (such as procuring ENERGY STAR qualified products and purchasing electricity from renewable sources), and periodically demonstrating progress in reports for public dissemination. There are 19 signatories from SRC member states to date, including:
Alabama
- Birmingham-Southern College | G. David Pollick, President
Florida
- Eckerd College | Donald R. Eastman III, President
- Florida Gulf Coast University | Richard Pegnetter, Interim President
- Florida International University | Modesto A. Maidique, President
- Stetson University | H. Douglas Lee, President
- University of Central Florida | John C. Hitt, President
- University of Florida | Bernard Machen, President
- University of Miami | Donna E. Shalala, President
Georgia
- Berry College | Stephen R. Briggs, President
- Georgia Institute of Technology | G. Wayne Clough, President
- Kennesaw State University | Daniel S. Papp, President
- LaGrange College | F. Stuart Gulley, President
- Life University | Guy Riekeman, President
- Southern Polytechnic State University | Lisa A. Rossbacher, President
- Toccoa Falls College | W. Wayne Gardner, President
South Carolina
- Clemson University | James F. Barker, President
- Furman University | David E. Shi, President
- Medical University of South Carolina | Raymond S. Greenberg, President
- University of South Carolina (8 institutions) | Andrew A. Sorensen, President
For more information, contact Andrea Putman, ACUPCC Implementation Advisory Committee member and SRC Higher Education Sector Lead at aputman@cadmusgroup.com.
Back to Top| Resources for Local Governments: |
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Highlights from Public Technology Institute (PTI)
This edition of the SRC newsletter focuses on support and programs for Local Governments. PTI, a national, non-profit institute, works with SRC to promote energy performance throughout local governments in conjunction with its own mission to accelerate technology transfer and market transformation in cities and counties. At its 2007 Technology Leadership Conference in Denver on May 6-8, PTI endorsed the ENERGY STAR Challenge, which encourages building owners across the country to improve their energy efficiency by 10% or more.
Cities and counties play a vital dual role in the Challenge because they lead by example by improving their own buildings, and they leverage their relationships with private sector organizations to motivate these groups to make energy efficiency improvements.
Local governments joining SRC have access to a wide variety of tools and resources to assist in their efforts to reduce the energy use of all buildings. Resources are already available on the SRC Web site to help local governments learn how they can save energy in their own buildings.
PTI offers a variety of technology products and services to assist local governments in addressing their technology needs. Find more information on additional resources available to PTI's local government members.
Back to TopThe SRC recommends the following to help you countdown to a cooler planet and a more energy-efficient city/county:
5. Get employees involved
Individual behavior greatly impacts the energy performance of each building in your portfolio. Your local government can find savings by educating employees on energy-efficient actions they can take every day. Encourage individuals to turn off lights when not in use or when natural daylight can be used, activate sleep settings on computer monitors, and shut down computers in the evening and on weekends. You can join an ENERGY STAR national campaign, such as Change a Light, Change the World or the Million Monitor Drive, as a focal point for raising awareness among your employees.
4. Schedule pre-season, annual maintenance checks for your HVAC system
“Tune-up” your heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system with an annual maintenance contract. A contract ensures that your HVAC contractor provides pre-season tune-ups prior to each heating and cooling season. You save energy and money and your system may last years longer. Don't forget to change (or clean if re-usable) HVAC filters monthly during peak cooling and heating seasons, to maintain efficient operation throughout the year.
3. Use thermostats and fans wisely
Decrease the load on your HVAC system by using programmable thermostats and fans for improved air circulation in your buildings. Installing a programmable thermostat can automate your HVAC system so you can keep your offices at a comfortable temperature during work hours and turn the system off over the weekends instead of heating or cooling an unoccupied facility.
Circulating air with fans can help keep people comfortable at a higher temperature and/or humidity level. Each degree of higher temperature can save about 3% on cooling costs. Remind people to turn off the fans when they leave their offices; fans cool people, not rooms!
2. Implement an energy-efficient purchasing program
By procuring energy-efficient equipment, your local government invests in energy and financial savings for years to come. The ENERGY STAR can be found on the most energy-efficient computers, printers, copiers, refrigerators, windows, thermostats, ceiling fans, other appliances and equipment including HVAC systems and window air-conditioning units, and more. These products offer consumers savings that range from 5 to 90% relative to standard models and up to 30% savings in total on their household energy bills.
1. Assess performance and set goals
Understanding the current and past use of energy in your facilities is key to setting goals for improved energy performance. Use the ENERGY STAR Energy Management Assessment Matrix to evaluate your current management practices. Take advantage of EPA's Portfolio Manager to track key consumption, performance, and cost information for energy and water use across your building portfolio. Together, this information will help you monitor improvements in energy efficiency and set goals for future investment.
For more ways your local government can help protect the environment, please visit www.southeastrebuild.org.
ENERGY STAR Challenge for Local Governments
SRC states have joined the ENERGY STAR Challenge and set a goal of improving energy efficiency by 10% or more using the resources provided by the SRC partnership. They will also work as a region to leverage federal programs and resources of the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The ENERGY STAR Challenge for local governments officially launched this summer and was endorsed by U.S. Conference of Mayors on June 26, 2007. The Challenge will also be highlighted later this summer at events co-sponsored by The National Association of Counties, The Public Technology Institute, and ICLEI. Through the Challenge, a toolkit is available to cities and counties to help promote energy efficiency to the community, including commercial offices, retailers, healthcare organizations, schools, small businesses, congregations, and others. Find more information on the ENERGY STAR Challenge and download the toolkit.
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Spread the word! The SRC encourages you to forward this first newsletter to your friends and colleagues |
visit southeastrebuild.org for more information.