Peer to Peer Approaches To Bring Sustainability Into University

Curricula

Merrilee HarriganVice President

Alliance to Save Energy

Overview • What is the Alliance to Save Energy?

• Introduction to the PowerSave Green Campus Program

• Peer to peer approaches to bring sustainability into university curricula through three case studies:

1. UC Merced’s PSGC Interns working with Creative Writing class2. UC Berkeley’s PSGC Interns teach Energy Efficiency & Sustainability course3. Cal Poly Pomona’s PSGC Interns produce Sustainability Course Guide

• Discussion and Questions

What is the Alliance to Save Energy?

Mission: • To promote energy

efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security.

Organization: • Staffed by 90+

professionals• 35 years of experience• $17 million annual budget• Recognized as the premier

energy efficiency organization in the world

Policy Leaders

EnvironmentalGroups

Academia

Business Leaders

What is the Alliance to Save Energy?

• Nonprofit organization headquartered in U.S.; operations worldwide

• Led by Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tom King, Chairman of the Board and President, National Grid US

• Board includes 13 Members of Congress – Bi-Cameral, Bi-Partisan

Program Areas of the Alliance to Save Energy

• Policy and Research• Industry and Utilities• Buildings• International• Policy and Research• Communications• Education– Schools– Campuses

Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy

Commission Goal:Double Energy Productivity by 2030

PowerSave Green Campus Overview

23 campusesStudent driven energy

efficiency workforce education program

Paid student internshipsGenerates actual

savings -- in 2011, nearly $7 million saved and 88,000 people reached

PowerSave Green Campus Program Goals

Peer to peer approaches to bring sustainability into university

curricula1. UC Merced’s PSGC Interns working with

Creative Writing class

2. UC Berkeley’s PSGC Interns teach Energy Efficiency & Sustainability course

3. Cal Poly Pomona’s PSGC Interns produce Sustainability Course Guide

Direct Peer to Peer Education: Academic Infusion in Business & Marketing

at UC Merced

-PSGC Interns infuse sustainability concepts into business writing curriculum to produce material for resident hall water and energy competitions

-Close Faculty involvement

-Topics Covered: • Environmental Sustainability • Water conservation• Energy efficiency

COURSE STRUCTURE

Student Presentations

ResourcesProjects

Introductory Business

Writing Class With

Professor John Haner

Marketing Materials

Business Plan

• Objective

• Executive Summary

• Keys to Success

• Impact

• Education

• Product / Deliverables

Utilize plan and marketing campaign materials in Water Competition.

Assign deadline for business plan and marketing campaign materials.

Schedule dates to teach general sustainability concepts

Implement curriculum on full term course

If possible, test curriculum on summer session

Draft curriculum

Seek faculty sponsor

Seven Action Items to Infuse Sustainability into Course Curricula

Takeaways of Direct Peer to Peer Education: Academic Infusion in Business & Marketing at UC

MercedPro’s: • Unique student subset exposed to new material• Targeted marketing materials• Encourage positive behavior change in student

community (occupants) of sustainable, LEED certified university campus

Challenges: • Faculty involvement

Direct Peer to Peer Education: “Energy Efficiency & Alternative Fuels”

DemocraticCal (DeCal) Class at UC Berkeley• PSGC interns teach DeCal

program: Student-led democratic education programPass/no passFaculty sponsor

• 14 semesters; 20-30 students

• Topics covered:• Auditing• Behavior change• Campus sustainability

COURSE STRUCTURE

DeCal student doing outreach in front of residential hall

Student Presentations

Guest Speakers / Field Trips

Assignments

DeCal student presenting in front of class

Charles Bohlig from East Bay Municipal Utility

District

FACULTY INVOLVEMENT

Faculty sponsor

(professor)

Approves syllabus

Submits grades

Sets up bSpace site

Guest lecturer

Professor Dan Kammen

Projects and Assignments

“Resource of the Week”

Presentations

Home Energy Audit

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Group Projects

GUEST SPEAKERS & FIELD TRIPS

Representation from PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center

Lauren Mills from Food Service and Technology Center leading tour of Clark Kerr Kitchens

Contacts ResearchCreate

syllabus Send invites

Turn in a copy of the application form and syllabus to DeCal office

Turn in copies of a special studies application form with syllabus to dean of the college of your department

Schedule course by requesting room and time

Have department chair sign the proposal form

Find a faculty sponsor

Fill out course proposal form found on website (decal.org)

Create a thorough syllabus

Seven steps to organize a DeCal Course

UC Campuses with similar programs:

UC Davis – ESLP

UC Irvine – Uteach

UC Santa Cruz - ESLP

UC Los Angeles – USIE

UC Santa Barbara - ESLP

UC San Diego – CSSA

Takeaways of Direct Peer to Peer Education:

DeCal Class at UC Berkeley Pro’s: • DeCal offers students no pressure environment (pass/ fail) to satisfy curiosity

of energy efficiency and water conservation• Enhances scholarly achievement for student facilitators• Fosters social interaction for facilitators and students

Challenges: • Managing expectations of students of the subject matter covered. • Sorting out logistics just prior to each semester for course number and room

assignment• Confirming speakers / managing cancellations

Direct Peer to Peer Education: Sustainability Course Guide at Cal Poly

Pomona -PSGC Interns produce Sustainability Course Guide

-Short term: ‘sustainability pathway’

-Long term: certificate program -Forge relationships w/ faculty, including department chairs, Office of Sustainability and the Registrar’s office

Organizing the Guide

Promote guide until registration closes

Compile guide

Confirm course offering in upcoming semester with Department chair

Determine if course is ‘focused’ or ‘related’ to sustainability

Compile master list of courses related to sustainability

Five General Steps to Assemble a Sustainability Course Guide

Pro’s: • Increase exposure of courses • Development of ‘sustainability pathway’ on campus

Challenges: • Maintain courses that change quarterly vs. yearly• Communication with Dept. Chairs/ Deans• Long term – development of certificate

Takeaways of Direct Peer to Peer Education: Sustainability Course Guide at Cal Poly

Pomona

Takeaways of Peer to peer approaches to bring sustainability

into university curriculaPro’s • Enhances scholarly achievement for student facilitators• Collaboration with faculty

• Unique student subset exposed to new material• Encourage positive behavior change in student

community

Con’s• Initiating any of these projects does entail some significant

bureaucratic challenges• More of a caveat - Students must engage in critical discussions of

concepts to reap value of intellectual exchange and ultimately seek solutions to environmental issues of today.

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Merrilee HarriganVice President, Education

mharrigan@ase.org

Danielle LauberProgram Associate, Alliance to Save Energy

DLAUBER@ASE.ORG

THANK YOU!