Program Overview

The Bright Energy 101 (BE101) Program is a 10-year plan for schools aimed squarely at the following goals: reducing GHG emissions by 80%; advancing the schools’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education program; and reducing operational expenditures.

To accomplish these goals, the BE101 Program has three integrated elements:

Energy Intelligence Software

The BE101 Energy Intelligence Software simplifies managing schools’ energy budgets, providing clear reporting and tracking of actual versus budget energy costs, monthly and annually. The environmental management features are focused on GHG emissions. BE101 establishes a GHG emissions baseline from which a path towards 80% reduction is developed and tracked. The BE101 Software also tracks the performance of energy efficiency (EE), renewable energy (RE), and clean electrification (CE) investments, once completed. It is critical to the continued investment in EE, RE and CE projects that the projected savings are realized, and the investment performance is clearly reported back to school management.

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Work-Based Learning, with Paid Internships

Integral to the BE101 Program is Work Based Learning, including a high school internship program established in collaboration with schools’ STEM education programs. The internship program includes the following elements: (a) student training; (b) facility auditing; (c) energy modeling; (d) implementing an energy conservation plan; and (e) recommending EE, RE and CE measures.

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Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Clean Electrification

 

With the BE101 Software operational, and the energy conservation plans in place at the school through the internship program, implementation of EE, RE and CE measures commence. These are expected to begin six to twelve months after the start of the Program, with projects being implemented each year of the Program, starting with the highest priority measures.

The EE strategy is a comprehensive approach, lowering HVAC load through envelope improvements, then installing efficient lighting and HVAC systems.

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The RE strategy is primarily the deployment of solar systems on school rooftops and parking lots.

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The CE strategy focuses on converting space and hot water heating loads to high efficiency heat pump technology. The clean electrification measures will be implemented together with the EE HVAC measures at the school. We also support electrification of school transportation fleets.

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