California State University, Chico This Way to Sustainability III Conference

The Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Campus Program recently participated in the 3rd annual This Way to Sustainability Conference at California State University, Chico from November 1-4, 2007. Billed as the “nation’s largest sustainability conference of its kind,” the event attracted over 1,000 students, educators, administrators, community members and professionals working to promote sustainability.

This year’s conference featured over 80 sessions and 9 tracks, ranging from environmental ethics and sustainable agriculture to training, education, and sustainable business practices. Student interns from the Alliance to Save Energy’s Green Campus Program made several presentations during the 4-day conference, highlighting student efforts to promote energy efficiency in higher education.

On Friday November 2, interns Amelia Gulling and Bret Bosma from the Chico State Green Campus program presented on “Student-Led Initiatives to Save Energy”, showcasing their efforts to promote energy conservation on campus, including their work with Network Based Power Management software, real-time energy metering, and residence hall energy conservation competitions.

On Saturday November 3, Humboldt State intern Jocelyn Orr gave a presentation entitled “Incorporating Sustainability into Academia”, while Humboldt State and Chico State Green Campus interns partnered to present “How to Conduct an Energy Audit”, covering hands-on techniques for reducing energy use and maximizing energy efficiency. During this energetic and well-received session, interns screened Humboldt’s highly acclaimed short film, The Phantom Hunter, and provided a hands-on training on how to use energy auditing tools, collect energy and behavioral data, and make energy-saving recommendations.

In addition, the Chico State Green Campus Program was given the spotlight during the Friday Nov. 2 banquet dinner. With the success of their Network Based Power Management, which resulted in nearly $50,000 in energy savings, Chico Green Campus was recognized for their efforts and presented with a rebate check from Pacific Gas and Electric on behalf of the UC/CSU/IOU Energy Efficiency Partnership.