Proposal+for+Gund+Institute 


 * __Project Title__**

Getting to Climate Neutrality - the Johnson House Demonstration Project at UVM


 * __Summary of Project__**

We propose to take one of the oldest buildings on campus, use a very limited budget with limited renovations, and make it climate neutral. This project will fund energy investments in efficiency, electrical generation, and heating and cooling for the Johnson House to bring it to climate neutrality within three years. UVM courses will create and oversee an implementation plan that optimally blends energy conservation, efficiency, generation, and new technology. A graduate student working group will develop a framework to look at the social, ecological and economic factors for UVM in making decisions on where to invest in renewables. Students will develop skills in quantitative optimization and gain knowledge about retrofitting older buildings. UVM and the City of Burlington will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in energy management unique to old buildings. This demonstration project could serve as a catalyst for energy investment in other similar buildings on campus and in Vermont.


 * __Introduction and Background__**

__Setting the Context__ We propose to bring the Johnson House to climate neutrality within three years. The Johnson House is the second oldest building on campus, built in 1806. It housed various UVM departments until 2002 when it become the home of the Gund Institute.

This project will use a historic, visible, but inefficient building to demonstrate how dramatic emission reductions can be achieved when both technology and people work toward a sustainable future. This project fully aligns with UVM’s environmental vision and commitment to become climate neutral by 2025. It would serve our pedagogical mission to bring the classroom into the real world, and it would reinforce the Gund Institute’s scholarship and leadership in sustainability.

83% of UVM’s emissions are tied to buildings. [1] While we have the technology and ability to build more efficient new buildings, existing infrastructure is a major constraint in reducing emissions. UVM has at least 52 buildings that were built between 1800-1950; 34 of those were built between 1800-1900. [2] This infrastructure profile is reflective of the housing stock in Burlington and Vermont where over 47% and 33% of homes were built before 1950 [3], [4] respectively. We are proposing that the Johnson House can serve as a model for how to address this issue on campus, in Burlington, and across Vermont.


 * __Methods and Timeframe__**

We envision this as a three-year, three-phase project.

__Year 1__

Faculty and staff at the Gund will partner with Professor Wang’s (HCOL 186 - Ecology for Sustainability) and Gary Hawley’s (ENSC 185 - Greening of Aiken) service learning courses to gather appropriate baseline information and create a roadmap towards climate neutrality, determine efficiency projects, and conduct outreach to publicize the project.

With the service learning courses students will:

1) //Publish a comprehensive energy assessment// of the Johnson House. This will compile 5 years of utility data, results from energy audits, and renewable energy feasibility studies. We have started to schedule an energy audit, a weatherization test, and a blower door test. Students will be present during those processes to understand the process, measures, and implications. We will get basic recommendations from those organizations regarding areas for energy efficiency. 2) //Create a detailed “road map”// of how the Johnson House can get to climate neutral by 2016. This will include analysis of both electricity and gas alternatives. 3) //Begin a monitoring and evaluation system// - “zero-net” meter - that tracks energy efficiency and emissions of the building over time.

During this time Gund staff and faculty will:

1) //Create a ecological economics framework for UVM// to use in decision making on around renewable energy investments on campus. 2) //UVM will identify and hire contractors// to complete two renewable energy-siting evaluations. Contractors will complete a structural study and solar analysis of the Johnson House to determine solar potential and refine the CREFS. The second contractor will complete a geothermal analysis including utility mapping to determine geothermal potential and cost. 3) //Develop communication outreach//, the Gund will create a subpage on our website that that includes: project rational, project process, and outcomes. This will also host student blogs, short videos, the “zero-net” meter, and other data. We will produce 1-2 short educational videos that will be hosted on the Gund’s website, Gund’s Youtube page, and through RETN which airs our videos on Thursday at 8pm.

In summer 2014 Gund faculty and staff will work with the UVM Physical Plant to:

1) //Complete initial energy efficiency improvements//. 2) //Select the appropriate renewable opportunities// for a pilot project and begin the internal UVM process and appropriate permitting processes. 3) //Begin permitting and installation// of other renewable systems as identified in the “road map”.

__Year 2 – Year 3__ In years 2-3, we will work with Gary Flomenhoft’s Fall 2014 ENSC 185/285 “Principles and Applications of Renewable Energy”, and in Spring 2015 with the same courses we worked with in Year 1. During this time we will seek funds to implement the efficiency and renewable recommendations from the “Road Map”, and will continue to monitor the zero-net meter. We will continue our communication outreach efforts by hosting UVM and community tours, report progress on the Gund webpage, student blogs, write op-eds, and develop two short videos.


 * __Benefits and Results__**

This project will contribute to UVM’s Climate Action Plan and our commitment to be climate neutral in 2025. The framework will help UVM in decision making around achieving climate neutrality. The Johnson House demonstration project will help inform UVM’s other efforts to address the emissions of existing infrastructure, especially the large number of old buildings on campus. This demonstration project can also be a learning laboratory for the City of Burlington, which has climate goals to “increase the energy efficiency of buildings within the city”. [5] It will also serve as a key demonstration project for the aging and remote housing stock in the state.

Proposed results: Year 1 1) Comprehensive Energy Assessment of the Johnson House. 2) Road map to get the Johnson House to climate neutrality. 3) Framework for ecological, social and economic considerations for UVM on prioritizing actions towards climate neutrality. 4) Implementation of initial energy efficiency projects at the Johnson House. 5) Training of students in several courses around the processes of energy auditing, planning, energy policy, permitting, and communications. 6) Communications leverage - website, op-eds, popular media pieces, interpretive panels, and 3-5 videos documenting the project. Year 2-3 1) Completion of energy efficiency and alternative energy projects. 2) Workshop for UVM and the Burlington communities on lessons learned. 3) Final report to the Office of Sustainability capturing the process, outcomes, challenges, and recommendations for similar initiatives on campus.


 * __Student Engagement__**

Experiential education is at the center of this proposal. This project will engage students through six service learning courses (detailed above) offered spring 2013 through fall 2015. These courses will provide students with experience in energy auditing, planning, energy policy and permitting, management, and communications.

Outside of formal engagement via service learning courses we will involve Gund Graduate Fellows in the larger project management aspect of this proposal. We will start a small working group led by Gund Fellow Robert Hernedeen and Deane Wang that will be geared towards graduate level understanding of the issues but will be open to undergraduate students and community members. Graduate students will mentor undergraduates as they create the roadmap and move through project implementation, strengthening relationships across cohorts at the University.


 * __Project Champions__**

This project has support from Taylor Ricketts, the Director of the Gund Institute. The Gund has committed $8,000 to this project, in addition to offering communications leverage, website space, and staff time to oversee the project. The Gund Fellows committed $8,000 of their Research Incentive Funds for FY 13 for this project and will assist with implementation and outreach.

We have support RSENR Interim Dean Jon Erickson for this project and have reached out to the Engineering Department and IGERT team. IGERT and graduate level engineering students will be invited to the working group.

We have already contacted Richard Wolbach and Michelle Smith who have agreed to work with us to schedule comprehensive audits and coordinate planning and permitting with the appropriate staff.

We will involve the Office of Sustainability in course offerings and our working group. This will ensure that our actions are grounded in the context of the University and that students have exposure to actors who are addressing these issues on a daily basis.


 * __Projected Budget and Budget Justification__**

We are requesting initial funding for two contractors to assess the potential for solar and geothermal at the Johnson House, we do not have solid budget estimates for those services. We are also requesting funds for the UVM Physical Plant to oversee the consultants and complete some of the initial energy efficiency projects.

If appropriate, we anticipate a larger funding request next year to implement renewable energy projects to help the Johnson House reach climate neutrality.

The comprehensive energy assessments and “Road Map to Climate Neutrality” will be covered via free audits and UVM course work. The Gund will cover the Framework and any publication fees. The Gund will also allocate up to $16,000 towards this project plus in-kind communication outreach.


 * __Justification for use of student-supported, CEF Funds__**

This proposal is true to the intention, vision, and purpose of the Clean Energy Fund, This proposal reduces current energy needs, transitions one building to a clean energy source, and supports the local economy.

Students will be front and center in all of this work from inception to completion via courses, working groups, and communication efforts. They will employ their best problems-solving skills while grappling with the larger academic issues applied in the real-world. This will provide UVM with an immediate outcome of moving one building to clean and climate neutral energy sources while providing a demonstration site for how to apply this process to other buildings on campus and throughout Burlington. Finally, using the Johnson House as a demonstration site provides a tangible location to showcase UVM’s commitment and student engagement.

[1] UVM's 2010 Climate Action Plan - [] [2] http://www.uvm.edu/campus/tour/archhistory.html [3] 2008 Consolidated Plan, City of Burlington, VT. [] [4] Vermont Housing Finance Authority, 2010. [] [5] Burlington Draft Climate Action Plan, 2013 []