PARTNERS GREEN

Partners GREEN is a non-profit organization created to champion the cause of renewable energy and energy efficiency throughout the nation. Our mission is to:

• Advance the installation and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, especially in our nation's schools,
  
• Offer educational programming and resource sharing that increases the awareness and understanding of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, and promotes the use of energy conservation measures in residential, commercial, and industrial settings, and
  
• Provide access to funding opportunities that facilitate construction and retrofit energy- and environment-related projects.
  
• Member organizations include K-12 schools, colleges and universities, energy companies, energy consultants, educational organizations, government agencies, other non-profits and like-minded individuals that have joined forces to pursue our mission.

During the past two years, Partners GREEN has been working with schools, industries and organizations on a wide range of energy-saving projects. Many of our major projects have been with industry in Michigan as part of our Michigan GREEN chapter's work.

ENERGY AUDITS

One area of activity has been conducting energy audits. Examples include:

• We conducted 30 introductory (Level I) energy audits as part of a grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to help small businesses save energy, and we have received a grant from the Michigan Energy Office to conduct similar energy audits for 12 more small businesses there. Level I audits include an analysis of utility bills and a brief survey or walk-through of the facility.
  
• We also conducted a Level II Energy Audit for one of our members who wanted to earn Green certification. Level II audits have a more detailed analysis of utility bills, a more in-depth inspection of the facility, and a breakdown of energy use at the facility identifying specific end-uses.
  
• We conducted Level III energy audits in conjunction with the City of Ann Arbor's Downtown Energy Conservation Program. Level III audits include a thorough field inspection of the facility, a professional engineering analysis of energy use and potential improvements, and a certification of the energy audit.

These energy audits are similar to work that can be useful to schools as well. They involve evaluating the building's current energy use, making recommendations for energy improvements, and then providing technical assistance to help them reach their energy targets.

ENERGY KITS

In another major Partners GREEN project, funded by more than $1,000,000 in grants, we put together and distributed more than 12,000 energy kits to low-income renters in multi-family housing. The kits included CFL bulbs, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads. One year later, we looked at the energy bills for 1,000 of the apartments, and found that the energy-efficient lighting had dropped their electricity costs by an average of $44, the water-saving features lowered their water/sewer bills by an average $32, and they had saved $27 in gas water heating costs (those using electricity to heat water saved even more). Overall, the residents saved an average of $103 during the year by using these simple, inexpensive energy improvements.

Because the kits cost $100 each (and had an expected lifetime of five years), the payback on the products was less than one year.

In addition, there were significant environmental benefits as well. The annual savings of 395 kWh in electricity and 27 CCF in natural gas results in a five-year impact of prevention of 5,223 lbs. of CO2 emissions, 32 lbs. of SO2 emissions, and 78 lbs. of  NOx emissions - amounts equal to planting 16 trees, from using the features installed in just one apartment! And it would have taken the planting of 192,000 trees to save the amount of emissions that were prevented by using the energy-saving features in the bags in all 12,000 homes.

Based on this work, Partners GREEN was awarded Michigan's Going Green award for 2008 by Corp! Magazine in the non-profit organization category.

WORK WITH SCHOOLS

Partners GREEN staff members have worked with more than 100 school districts throughout Michigan. We are currently working with Michigan School Business Officials to take their Energy Essentials program nationwide. This program assists school districts in developing a program that creates energy awareness and strategies that result in saving money. It includes conducting technical energy assessments and also bringing together every area of the school district (administrators, school board members, students, and teachers) to develop and implement a plan. Energy savings from this program have consistently been in the 10 to 20 percent range - giving a typical payback of one year or less.

PROJECT EVERGREEN SCHOOLS

Project EverGREEN Schools® is a program of Partners GREEN that offers a no-cost program using the benefits of renewable energy generation and energy efficiency along with the Partners GREEN robust education program. It offers schools a program that wraps renewable energy systems, distributed generation, and energy efficiency around a comprehensive education program.

Through an innovative business model, Project EverGREEN Schools works collaboratively with educators, private industry and others to provide renewable energy technologies and energy-efficiency programs to schools. The savings generated by using these technologies can then be used for additional building improvements, academic scholarships, education programs, supplies and other school needs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Partners GREEN and our programs, contact Blanche Sheinkopf, National Education Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or 630-848-1974.