This paper outlines the result of an innovative program to develop a competency-based curriculum and a work process to engage students in energy assessment of small commercial buildings in their community. Throughout the resulting course, "Leadership in Building Energy Efficiency (LBEE)," students were trained to gather buildings'…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to develop an analytical framework toward facilitating the quantitative measurement of interdisciplinary understanding regarding sustainable energy systems with an application in the area of capacity-building projects in higher education. Design/methodology/approach: The analytical framework is developed using…

At the original Hubble Middle School, neither the views (a congested Roosevelt Road and glimpses of downtown Wheaton) nor the century-old facility that offered them was very inspiring. Built at the start of the 20th century, the 250,000-square-foot building was converted from Wheaton Central High School to Hubble Middle School in the early 1980s.…

Dozens of schools throughout North America already are putting solar equipment to limited uses, scores are conducting or contemplating solar feasibility studies, and at least one school now in operation is applying solar power to every phase of its energy program. (Author)

Describes how infrared thermography can pinpoint those areas in school buildings that are causing energy loss. (IRT)

A practical approach designed to reduce energy waste by schools is to improve the knowledge and upgrade the skills of school building custodians. This paper discusses an operation and maintenance training program for custodians developed by the Will County (Illinois) educational service region. The major parts of the program consist of skill…

The objective of the Saving Schoolhouse Energy Program was to generate information that school administrators and federal energy/education decision makers could use to identify ways of implementing specific, economical remedies to reduce energy waste in schools. This program was designed to have five phases: (1) Conduct an energy audit of ten…

Several colleges and universities participate in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Buildings program, in which institutions commit to improving their buildings' energy efficiency and reducing energy costs. All participants must also be a Green Lights Program participant or agree to specific building-wide lighting upgrades. The…

This publication offers information on energy efficiency in schools. It discusses the high costs of energy in schools, the benefits of smart energy use, options for schools to be smarter in their energy use, energy's impact on student performance, how schools can participate in the EnergySmart Schools campaign operated by Rebuild America, why the…

Projects being carried out by the private sector involving the use of solar energy for heating and cooling buildings are profiled in this report. A substantial portion of the data were collected from a broad cross-section of the building community. Data collection efforts also involved the canvassing of the nearly 200 trade and professional…

Discusses programs, courses, and curricula sponsored by professional organizations and architecture schools to foster a change in the way professionals design commercial buildings. Includes an annotated list of curricula for passive design in architecture available at no cost while supplies last. (JN)

The graduate of the Insulator apprenticeship program is a certified journeyperson who will be able: (1) responsibly do all work tasks expected of a journeyperson; (2) supervise, train and coach apprentices; (3) demonstrate the installation, fitting, fabrication and attachment of insulation, finishing and weatherproofing materials to a high…

Describes a new environmental studies program at the University of Missouri-Columbia in which social psychologists, architects, and home economists are studying the physical design of human living spaces under an environmental-and-behavior paradigm. Discusses some of the teaching, research, and outreach programs underway. (TW)

To train sheet metal workers in energy conservation technology, the National Training Fund (NTF) of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Industry collaborated with universities in developing their apprenticeship curricula on solar-powered environmental systems, a solar air system training film, and NTF instructor training courses and workshops.…

The Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers offers Opportunity Assessment (OA) workshops to train campus decision makers in developing a business plan to fund campus infrastructure upgrades from energy operating budgets, by combining highly efficient building utility systems upgrades and controls with properly sized and efficient…