Alameda Energy Efficient Schools Program

SEI partnered with Alameda Power & Telecom’s Energy Efficient Schools Program to develop project-based energy education curricula for elementary and middle school teachers in Alameda County. The curricula focused on geothermal, hydropower and other renewable resources to reflect Alameda Power & Telecom’s unique blend of power.

Awareness for Communities About the Environment (ACE) The San Francisco Grant 2006-2007

In 2006, SEI received a grant from the San Francisco Foundation to implement the ACE program primarily in affordable housing sites and small businesses in the Bay Area. SEI trained project leaders who taught more than 35 hours of energy efficiency and conservation lessons and techniques in three low-income after-school programs, one low-income school and worked with students from six elementary and high schools in Marin County. Out of the 10 sites, 22 low-income students completed home energy audits, one of which was at an affordable housing complex. In addition to the 22 home audits, 51 small businesses were audited and students from five schools were taught auditing techniques. Students participated in three community resource fairs, one of which was in a low-income area, distributing 80 compact fluorescent light bulbs and teaching the public about energy efficiency and conservation.In 2007/2008, SEI hopes to used the ACE program to work with a student population to help them establish a culture of sustainability in their homes and neighborhood and instill the next generation with a conservation ethic and awareness to lead our society into a more sustainable future. The project will also serve as a pilot for investigating the feasibility of expanding this program as a model for after-school programs at affordable family housing sites and schools across the Bay Area.

Fresno Environmental Justice Grant

SEI has received an Environmental Justice grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a sustainable community demonstration project for the Fresno California Avenue Improvement Plan. This ACE project will serve an educational and awareness building purpose for those living in the neighborhood. SEI will work with local nonprofits to identify students interested in serving the community through energy-related work. SEI and staff/educators will develop and provide a service learning opportunity to these students to conduct energy assessments and provide cost savings recommendations to their families and neighbors. The project includes plans for green festivals at community meetings to increase energy awareness and conservation efforts to those living in the community.

Marin Community Foundation

Since 2004, SEI has received support from the Marin Community Foundation (MCF) to partner with the Marin Conservation Corps (MCC) and the Environmental Education Council of Marin (EECoM) to continue to offer the ACE program using a Train-the-Trainer model. SEI trains MCC staff to include the ACE Program in their school offerings and in their Summer ReGen program. Under SEI’s supervision, high school students audit small business, develop a report that makes recommendations for more efficient lighting, and includes the amount of energy and utility costs saved if the retrofits are carried out. Teens participating in the Teen Media Network of EECOM participate in the program and write and record radio spots and produce press releases about the program.

Marin Community Foundation Sustainability Audit

The Marin Community Foundation asked SEI to conduct a sustainability audit of their office space. SEI collected data by surveying the facilities manager and the employees. SEI staff and two high school students performed an audit of the office space. Together they analyzed the data and developed a report suggesting ways MCF could further their commitment toward greening their business.

Marin Community Foundation School Year Grant 2007-2008

SEI partnered with EECOM and MCC to continue to extend the ACE program for a third summer. Under this grant, we will expand the Curb Your Carbon curriculum, and develop a sustainability audit that includes energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and the overall ecological footprint of a business. This work will be correlated with requirements for Marin County’s Green Business program. SEI staff will train MCC staff to teach ReGen students about sustainability and its relationship to climate protection and how to conduct a sustainability audit.

Small Business Energy Alliance (SBEA)

SBEA received public goods funds to conduct energy surveys and provide recommended retrofits. SEI partners with SBEA through the ACE program. College students and/or high school students interning with SEI conduct the preliminary energy survey of small businesses. SBEA follows up after receiving the potential savings information from SEI and offers to install the energy efficient lighting recommended by SEI. SBEA will complete the lighting project at a 75% - 100% discount.

British Petroleum’s A+ for Energy Program

A grant from BP’s A+ for Energy Program allowed Hoopa Valley High School in Humbolt County, California, to purchase a mobile solar electric education module as the centerpiece for science instruction and experimentation. SEI’s ACE program provided a comprehensive training in the fundamentals of designing a solar electric system, including basic cost analysis, sizing the system, proper orientation and siting, and available rebates and tax incentives. Once trained, the high school students also provided solar analysis of their homes and other schools in the district.ACE-Eureka
In this job-training program at Eureka High in Humboldt County, SEI trained students receiving Workforce Investment Act assistance to conduct energy audits for 25 small businesses, develop recommendations and action plans, and present the businesses with subsidized lighting retrofit opportunities.

California Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (CALEEP)

Working with Navigant Consulting and the Sonoma County Redevelopment Agency, SEI trained high school and college students to conduct commercial and residential energy audits in Sonoma Valley and the Russian River areas of Sonoma County. As part of the program, SEI staff recruited, trained, and managed six students, who provided no-cost energy audits to homeowners and small businesses. In addition to the students’ report of findings that included low-cost recommendations for lowering monthly utility bills, 74 homeowners and 40 business owners received free lighting and appliance upgrades from the Sonoma County Redevelopment Agency, in conjunction with the program’s public incentive funds.

Dominican University Teacher Training

In 2007, SEI staff taught a course at Dominican University targeting 3rd- through 6th-grade teachers, enabling them to teach environmental sustainability according to state curriculum standards. Teachers explored renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation, zero waste and environmental ethics. In addition, the teachers participated in a lab in which they observed SEI’s summer camp, Planet Energy.

Green Schools Program

SEI worked with the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Schools Program to train teachers to incorporate energy efficiency activities into their existing curriculum and provide in depth support and a variety of resources throughout their participation in the program. Each school elects a team of teachers, staff, and students who will plan hands on learning activities in the school and in their community around energy conservation. From 2002-2006, between 7 and 30 schools participated in the program each year. Energy savings from these schools ranged from 5% to 7.6%.

School Energy Efficiency Program

SEI helped teach students about energy, train teachers in energy-efficiency issues and improve school district facilities. The SEI team gained the participation of 55 school districts in California’s Central Valley, conducted training workshops and coordinated the implementation of demonstration projects. Students learned about the effect of energy-efficiency measures through SEI curricula before and after implementation of the demonstration projects.