Update: A Strategic Initiative
for NECA and the IBEW in Energy Efficiency
and Green Building Power Systems
David Riley, Penn State (coordinator)
With
Tom Glavinich, U. Kansas
John Duffy, U. Mass
Amy Glasmeier, MIT
Purpose

Initiate strategic activities to capitalize on
the broad opportunities for E.C. s in Energy
Efficiency and Green Energy

Focus on tangible and broad reaching efforts
that build for the future
Thrust 1: Green Energy Systems Research
Thrust 2: Workforce Development
Thrust 3: Energy Engineering Education
Project Update
Review Purpose
 Goal and Progress for 6 sub projects

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1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
Energy Efficiency Technologies
Solar PV Course and 3. Training
Student Chapter Service Project Design
Student Competition Design
Marketing E.C. Industry with Solar / Green
Feedback / Questions from you
Project Update
Review Purpose
 Goal and Progress for 6 sub projects

◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

1.
2.
4.
5.
6.
Energy Efficiency Technologies
Solar PV Course and 3. Training
Student Chapter Service Project Design
Student Competition Design
Marketing E.C. Industry with Solar / Green
Feedback / Questions from you
5. Student Chapter Competition
Green Energy Challenge
 Student teams conduct energy audit of
local building (school)
 Develop applicable solution:
1. Classroom lighting retrofit design/estimate
2. Develop solution for one owner-identified
power problem/issue
3. Incorporate solar or wind power into
facility
5. Student Chapter Competition
Pilot program ‘09
◦
◦
◦
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Jan – Competition announcement
May – Proposals due
July – Finalists selected (in progress)
Sept. – Presentations / awards in Seattle
5. Student Chapter Competition
Judging criteria
 Technical solution
 Professionalism
 Interaction with NECA
Chapter/Contractors
 Outreach / promotion
5. Student Chapter Competition
Observations from pilot
 Good response
◦ 9 universities expressed interest
◦ 7 submitted proposals
Student teams seem very motivated /
interested
 Open-ended nature

◦ Allows for creativity
◦ Develops broader skills than bid proposal
5. Student Chapter Competition
Observations from pilot
 Need to announce sooner to attract more
teams
 Judging will be challenging
◦ Not apples to apples
◦ Will need down-select for semi-finalists in future

National interest – need to develop aggressive
promotion program and recognition plan for
participating teams
5. Student Chapter Competition
Next
 Three finalist teams present solution at
convention
 All teams display poster
 De-brief with teams / faculty
 Develop plan for 2010
◦ Earlier start
◦ Semi-final selection added
Thank you!
David Riley
driley@engr.psu.edu
1. Energy Efficiency Technologies


Goal: Develop a go-to resource for the E.C.
industry for energy efficiency technologies
Progress:
◦ Lead student identified: Eric Sauder
◦ Template designs in progress

Feedback Needed:
◦ Coupling this site with supplier/distributor
information for advertising revenue?
◦ Including opportunity for E.C. to “rate” or
provide feedback / revues?
2. PV Systems Online Course +
3. Hands-on workshop design
Goal: Create an online PV course and
hands-on training curriculum for the dual
audience of students and electrical
contractors
 Progress

◦ Piloting hybrid version of course this
semester (30 students enrolled)
◦ Combining online and hands-on in 1st offering
◦ Coordination meeting with NJATC 1/27/09
4. Solar Service Program
Goal: Design a service activity for NECA
student chapters with Cross-Border
NECA partners
 Progress

◦ Course design Fall ’08
◦ Pilot 3/09 in Roatan, Honduras

Feedback
◦ http://sites.google.com/site/psureca/
◦ Come join the fun!
Renew Crew Website
http://sites.google.com/site/psureca/
Student Competition Design:
Energy Efficiency Retrofit and
PV System Integration

Proposal (60%)
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Project summary
Lighting analysis
Transformer / Distribution Analysis
PV system design
Financing plan
Team Organization (20%)
◦ Team diversity
◦ Collaboration with NECA Partners

Outreach (20%)
◦ Letter from “client”
◦ Article in program newsletter
◦ Presentation / feedback from NECA Chapter
6. Attracting Talent:
Marketing E.C. Industry with Solar / Green Careers
Goal: Develop coordinating marketing
materials to build awareness and
connectivity between university students
and E.C. industry
 Progress

◦ Data collection –influences on student
decisions
◦ Role of local chapters in representing E.C.
industry
◦ Developing marketing materials
Expected Initiative Results

Enrich EI Talent Initiative with new
programs
◦ Sustainable business models
◦ Repeatable

Supportive of larger NECA / EI efforts to
develop Energy Strategy / Roadmap