Annual PowerSave Campus Summit calls for Action on Energy Efficiency

The Alliance to Save Energy convened 150 attendees last month at the 9th Annual PowerSave Campus Energy Efficiency Summit at UCLA.  The theme, Action: Energy Efficiency, served as a reminder of the actions we can take ourselves and encourage others to take to save energy and the planet.  Events like this are meant to bring the leaders of this campus movement together - both students and staff - to strategize and fine tune the energy efficiency message and actions. 

A PowerSave Campus checklist by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

PowerSave Campus is a student-driven energy efficiency education program that promotes careers in the field, generates actual energy savings, increases awareness of the importance of energy efficiency, and encourages academic infusion of sustainability concepts.  Projects range from energy audits and assessments, residential and laboratory energy competitions, intern-led and faculty sponsored academic courses, green career fairs, and energy efficiency technology retrofits.

The Energy Efficiency Summit is an opportunity to convene the 16 PowerSave campuses in California to share and discuss best practices conducted in the past year, but also to ask and answer tough questions about how to move forward.  At the Summit, student interns at all levels – new and experienced – had the opportunity to attend training sessions on project planning, evaluation, marketing and academic infusion; to learn about pilot projects and technologies that have been successful at a number of campuses; and to network with faculty and professionals who have made a career in the energy and academic fields.

Key Sessions Further EE Education & Careers:  

• Academic Infusion Advisory Group - a cross section of existing sustainability academic infusion efforts; strategizing regarding PowerSave Campus’ role in further curricula development and institutionalization;
• Introduction to Integrated Demand Side Management - given by Southern California Edison Program Manager Mei Lee; 
• Hands on kitchen energy assessment training - taught by PowerSave Campus Program alumni from the Food Service Technology Center;
• Energy Career Panel - featuring sustainability professionals Executive Director of Climate Resolve Jonathan Parfrey; Account Executive from Southern California Gas Michael Kung; Program Associate at the Alliance to Save Energy Colleen Butterfield; and Professor of Architecture at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Margot McDonald;
• PowerSave Campus Alumni Luncheon - featuring program alumni to discuss their transition to working in the sustainability field full-time;
• Peed-led Technology Stations - fast-paced rotation stations to teach students about cutting edge energy efficiency technologies.

Distinguished speakers and attendees included keynote Denise Tyrrell, Director, Business and Community Outreach for the California Public Utilities Commission and representatives from Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas, and San Diego Gas & Electric. 

Review the PowerSave Campus Energy Efficiency Summit program here, and view and download event presentations here.