Project Evaluations Best Practices

Jenn Alvarez, Green Campus Lead

Best Practices Application Outline

Traditional Marketing

UC/CSU/CCC SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE 2010

Energy Efficiency Partnership Program

Best Practice Awards Application

Application Period: 2 weeks

Deadline: ~ end March or beginning April 2010

Page limit: 5 pages

I. CONTACT INFORMATION

II. PROJECT CATEGORY

- SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS (Student Energy Efficiency)

Application deadline

Content Requirements

III. PROJECT INFORMATION

Project/practice name:

Project/practice location:

Implementation cost:

Estimated annual energy savings (as applicable):

Estimated annual energy cost savings (as applicable):

Description (paragraph in length)

Key Components

• Measurable Savings

• Replicable - How is your program a Best Practice? Is it

easily replicable on other campuses?

• Innovative – If your project has been done before, i.e.

residence hall energy competition, how have you made it

new/innovate?

• Collaborative/Sustainable - Design integration – How does

it incorporate multiple disciplines and/or stakeholders? How

has this contributed to the longevity/sustainability of the

project?

Green Campus recognized

Winners in Best Practices in Student Energy Efficiency

2005: Humboldt State and UC Berkeley

2006: CSU San Bernardino and UC Santa Barbara

2007: UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, Chico State, Humboldt State,

Honorable Mention CSU San Bernaridino

2008: Chico State and UC Berkeley, Honorable Mention UC

Santa Cruz

2009: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC San Diego, Honorable

Mention Humboldt State

2010: YOU!

Stacy Katz

How to Complete a Project Evaluation

Why is This Important?

• Lays the Foundation for Best Practices

• Provides Green Campus Interns with Valuable Project

Information for the Future

• Great Resource for You!

– Project Documentation

– Skill Documentation

– Leadership and Organizational Documentation

– Great for Interviews

Project Category

Project Description, Cost, Metrics

Project Description, Cost, Metrics

What to Consider:

- Objectives of the Project?

- Who were the stakeholders?

- How did you plan the event?

- Who did you collaborate with?

- How did you identify what the metrics were going to be?

- How did you collect metrics?

- What was the outcome?

Soft Metrics, Lessons Learned,

Outreach, Attachments

Soft Metrics, Lessons Learned,

Outreach, Attachments

Lessons Learned

-Did things go as smoothly as they could?

-What could you have done to prepare better for next time?

-What really worked?

-What didn’t work?

Attachments – Speaker Related

Attachments – Marketing Related

Attachments – attendee related

Thank you!

Sarah Schneider

Program Coordinator

Humboldt State University

How to write a winning Best Practices

application

Methodology

• Highlight projects that:

– Energy Savings

– Replicable

– Innovative

• Utilized our hybridized SOW/Project Evaluation

• Projects: (constituted bulk of energy savings)

– Bundled project

– Office Energy Audit Campaign (Seminars)

Methodology cont…

• Consulted campus lead for metrics

• Included supplemental supportive info

via appendices

Tips

• Focus on projects that:

– Energy Savings

– Innovative

– Replicable

• Provide detailed project descriptions with plenty of metrics

• Comprehensive introduction section

• Keep writing concise and strong (e.g. active voice)

• Focus on content of application and maybe include 1 or 2

attachments

• Ink color choice and formatting

• Stay true to the application! (answer the questions)

Challenges

• Organization

– Coordination

– Divide sections

• Short turnaround (~2 weeks)

Start early!

• Page limit (~5)

– keeping it concise, comprehensive & well written

Sample

Project/practice name: Installation of Network-Based Power

Management Software, Dining Hall Ventilation Control Project

and the Re-commissioning of the Wildlife Building

Project/practice location: Humboldt State University

Implementation cost: $174,338 total cost for all three projects

Estimated annual energy savings (as applicable): 491,449

kWh, 13,890 therms

Estimated annual energy cost savings (as applicable):

$59,454

Benefits

• Publicizes your efforts

• Recognition for Program and campus

• Legitimizes your efforts even more so

• Impressive accomplishment to add to your resume

• Great skill to have for future endeavors (i.e. grant

proposals)