RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION DESIGN © 2012 www.PosterPresentations.com How significant a role can campus-based renewable energy play in UVM’s progress towards carbon neutrality? The Clean Energy Fund, (CEF) funded a feasibility study to help answer this question and generate scenarios to aid in renewable energy planning at UVM. The study was conducted over the summer of 2012 by CHA (Clough, Harbour, & Associates), and will be an invaluable tool for future decision-making about resource allocation to renewable energy installation projects on campus. The final recommendations, as well as the potential renewable energy installation locations map, will serve as foundational knowledge for both the CEF Committee, and for key campus stakeholders, including Capital Planning and Management, the Physical Plant Department, and senior administration. Student interns worked with CHA to prepare analyses and feasibility reports, as well as to document the progress of the study. PROJECT DESCRIPTION PROJECT GOALS & DELIVERABLES The following criteria formed the basis of the analysis conducted over the summer by CHA and UVM student interns: • Site orientation and conditions, including meteorology • State and local regulatory requirements • Costs related to installation and operation • Existing utility infrastructure • Proximity to utility connection • Historical, archeological and/or culturally significant buildings and sites Three CEF student interns researched and analyzed the installation potential of: • Solar Photovoltaic • Wind • Geothermal • Research conducted by interns and consultants included: • Conducting field surveys, including learning how to estimate the size of a building as well as its roof. • Specific energy technology review, including appropriate applications and potential equipment. • Technology energy analysis, including learning how estimate total power generation potential based on square footage of solar panels (PV or thermal), as well as average annual wind speed. • Coordinating with two marketing interns to create documentary-style videos of the entire feasibility study process, as well as a marketing video. FEASIBILITY STUDY CEF interns conducted field surveys of buildings, parking lots, and open fields on the University’s main campus in the City of Burlington (459 acres) and south campus, located in the City of South Burlington (495 acres). The interns surveyed each renewable energy technology for a period of 1-2 weeks and submitted data to CHA for analysis. CHA consultants in turn provided data from each renewable energy technology feasibility study to their GIS specialist. Map layers were develop for each technology both in GIS and KML (Google Map) formats. RENEWABLE ENERGY POTENTIAL MAP CEF SUMMER INTERNSHIP “Working with a small team allowed for more understanding between members. It provided a good experience for finding ones place in a team environment, being open to others ideas and critiques, and contributing to a greater whole.” - Richard P. Smith III, Class of 2013 During Summer 2012, the Office of Sustainability hired five interns on behalf of the Clean Energy Fund to observe, document, and analyze two CEF-funded projects for an average of 8-10 hours per week: (1) installation of a 32 kW solar PV system at the Miller Research Farm’s Ellen A. Hardacre Equine Center and, (2) Comprehensive Campus Renewable Energy Feasibility Study. • Three students served as the technical team. They performed site surveys for the feasibility study. Technical interns worked with CHA at least one day per week. • Two students served as the communications and outreach team: (1) The media intern filmed, edited and produced videos on the project. (2) The outreach intern collected information and produced PR materials on the implementation of CCREFS over the duration of the project. Interns’ Majors: Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Community Development & Applied Economics/Communications. Internship Deliverables: ① Bi-weekly blog posts on OoS website of experience ② 2-3 pg. reflection on internship experience ③ 2-3 pg. draft PR narrative describing the project ④ Presentation on internship experience ⑤ Produce 6 short online videos on project (Media Intern). Interns met once a week with the internship supervisors (Sustainability Projects Coordinator and Green Buildings Coordinator) to check-in on the progress of their internship. During each meeting, supervisors discussed professional development skills (such as mind mapping) and career development, (which included building a professional portfolio), visiting UVM’s Career Services, and taking the Myers-Briggs personality test. “I believe the most valuable skill I am taking away from this internship is a new understanding of professional development… I see this internship as a bridge connecting the skills I have acquired in college with what I can offer a future employer.” - Kierstin Wall, Class of 2013 Project Goals Recommendations for optimal renewable energy site locations on the University’s main campus in the City of Burlington, and on south campus, located in the City of South Burlington. Deliverables of this feasibility study included: ① A campus strategic renewable energy plan that included an assessment of the opportunities for the following renewable energy technologies: • Solar (thermal and photovoltaic) • Wind (ground mounted and building integrated) • Geothermal • Biofuels and Biomass • Fuel cells a) Provide an overall maximum capacity of renewable energy potential of the UVM campus. Recommendations can be phased to accommodate successive carbon neutrality goals. b) Determine the most appropriate renewable energy technologies for the University’s geographic location, and climatic conditions. c) Identify the optimal location of these technologies. ② A map of all potential installation locations divided into layers for each individual technology. Map presented in GIS and KML (Google Maps) formats. ③ Student intern involvement in the feasibility study. Gioia Thompson, Sustainability Director Mieko A. Ozeki, Sustainability Projects Coordinator Michelle M. Smith, Green Building Coordinator Mapping Renewable Energy Potential on Campus: A Case Study of a Strategic Green Fund Project LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT: WWW.UVM.EDU/SUSTAIN/CEF QUESTIONS? Contact us at: [email protected] Google Earth view of Athletic Campus solar potential. Drawings of potential roof mounted solar PV. Interns surveyed each building site and open ground sites on campus. See Survey Process video on Vimeo at: http://goo.gl/czxDV