Minnesota Schools Cutting Carbon

Stated Project Description: DCTC proposes an LED retrofit of exterior parking lot lighting. Current standard High Intensity Discharge (HID) exterior fixtures would be replaced with LED lamps which would improve and lower our energy consumption, our carbon footprint, and our maintenance budget as well as reduce waste. Existing light poles would be utilized, with only the head and arm of the fixture being retrofit. At an anticipated cost of about $2,200 per head, funding from MnSCC would allow 2 poles with 3 heads each to be retrofit. A significant portion of the work would be integrated into technical program curriculum and be performed by students. The retrofit would provide valuable information for future lighting decisions at DCTC and in our community; ongoing classroom learning; and an opportunity for a student-led team to share the benefits of LED lighting with students and community members.

Our timeframe for task completion has been skewed due to the timing of the grant award. Because of the lateness of receiving funds and our inability to obligate funds until received, the installation was not complete until the very end of the semester. This did not allow adequate time for student to complete additional tasks that were related, but needed to be completed after the installation. These tasks have been scheduled for completion during fall semester 2010. The shift in timeline will not affect the outcome of the project, and in fact will allow for a new set of students to participate. Due to early snow during Fall Semester, the tasks were not able to be completed. Students started a new semester on January 10, 2011 and tasks are scheduled to be completed in early Spring.

Project Goal: To educate students and the community about sustainable impacts of reducing carbon emissions and energy consumption.

Objective 1: To reduce energy use and carbon output through an exterior lighting retrofit at DCTC.

Task A: Install exterior LED lighting retrofits on 2 light poles in west parking lot at DCTC. As stated above, the scope of this task was increased to include 3 light poles. All three retrofits have been completed. Student calculations of energy savings have been partially completed. Our timelines for tasks and sub-tasks were shifted due to the timing of receiving funds. We were not able to obligate funds until they were received. Therefore lamps were not ordered until March 26, 2010. We were told to allow five to six weeks for delivery. We kept our fingers crossed that our supplier could beat that time estimate and we could complete installation prior to the end of the spring term. We were rewarded with delivery of lamps in mid-April, which allowed time for all students in both our Electrical Construction and Maintenance (ECM) program and Electrical Lineworker program to closely inspect lamps prior to the installation process. After the snow and ice were melted from the parking lot, and prior to the LED installation, the students from the ECM program took light readings from the existing HID lamps, and marked these on the parking lot for later comparison. A total of 60 readings were taken (20 per pole). As was our plan, we were able to use the bucket trucks that had been leased by the Electrical Lineworker program to complete the actual installation. The work was completed on the last day trucks were in our possession. Our workplan called for the ECM students to complete the installation of the LED lamps, however due to the nature of the work and the use of the bucket trucks, it was determined that the work should be completed by the students in the Electrical Lineworker (EL) program. On the day of installation, students from both the ECM and EL programs were on hand along with their instructors. It took a full day to complete the work using 30 students, and two bucket trucks. Installation consisted on cutting the top of the existing poles, removing the fixtures, attaching an adaptor, and then attaching the three heads for the LED lamps. The lamps that were removed were retained for replacement parts for the HID lamps that continue to exist on campus. Students in the ECM program will continue the workplan in the fall by reviewing the light readings and taking new readings to calculate changes. Workplan will continue in early Spring 2011.

Sub-task 1: Calculate the average monthly KWh energy and carbon savings. (Estimations were completed during the application process, actuals will be completed by students in the fall – now scheduled to be completed in early Spring 2011.)
Sub-task 2: Determine lighting retrofit payback. (Estimations were completed during the application process, actuals will be completed by students in the fall – now scheduled to be completed in early Spring 2011.)
Sub-task 3: Select and order 6 LED lamp heads with best pricing and performance. (Increased number of LED lamp heads to 9 – task complete.)
Sub-task 4: Installation process – secure Bucket Trucks and other tools required; disconnect & recycle or dispose of existing fixtures, rewire and connect new fixtures. (Completed by students in April/May 2010.)
Subtask 5: Evaluation (calculate actual carbon savings); draw conclusions. (Expected completion date April 2011.)

Budget/Costs:
LED Lamp Heads and Arms: Estimated at $13,200 for 6 lamp heads; actual cost of $12,930.00 for 9 lamp heads. Our supplier made several concessions to bring our costs to this level.
Miscellaneous Supplies: Estimated at $500; actual expenses of $490.50 which includes $350.50 for permit and three hours of licensed contractor time for inspections; $90 for miscellaneous shop supplies, and $50 fuel charge.
Bucket Truck: Our estimation of $140.00 / hour x 12 hours = $1,680.00 (in-kind by DCTC) was accurate; actual in-kind donation $1680.00.
Staff Time: Estimated $50.00 / hour x 10 hours = $500.00 (in-kind by DCTC). We have exceeded this estimate with work done to date, and will have additional staff time during the fall semester and as results are calculated and evaluation completed. As stated above, due to early snow additional staff time will be added as work is done early Spring 2011.

Total Grant Funds Expended to Date: $13,400.00 Total Match to Date: $2,200.50 (in-kind by DCTC) Total Expended to Date: $15,650.50

Objective 2: Raise awareness around the campus and the community

Task A: Create learning opportunities through core program curriculum in ECMT and ID programs
Students in both the Electrical Construction and Maintenance program and the Electrical Lineworker programs have had many learning opportunities which were incorporated into the core curriculum. Students in these courses will continue to benefit during the fall, and into the future.

Task B: Create learning opportunities for community. Due to the delayed timeline of LED installation, the community learning opportunities were not able to be implemented prior to this report. We anticipate the following tasks will be completed in the fall.

Sub-task 1: Use various media to notify students, staff, faculty of LED lighting change and benefits associated with change. (Partial. Press release upon notification of grant. Notification of status by electronic and social media will be made in August following the commencement of fall semester.)
Sub-task 2: Contact local electrical companies to provide “expert” help and information on rebates available for community members for making changes in their homes; share with campus population. Bruce Hansberger’s students will be completing this task this semester.
Sub-task 3: Host interactive student display that provides a variety of information and visual comparison of benefits of LED lighting vs. non-LED lighting (to reach students). (Pending. Students will plan and implement sub-task 2 & 3 in the fall. Will be completed in early Spring 2011.)
Sub-task4: Host “green” learning booth with interactive display at spring and fall event on campus (to reach greater community). (Partial. A green booth was available at our spring 2010 event. Our fall event has been cancelled, however information will continue to be shared on campus, and again at our spring 2011 event. This has been continuing on campus.)
Sub-task 5: provide data comparison/report to Administrators, leaders in Dakota County, and MnSCC. (Pending. Upon completion of project)

Budget / cost:

Staff time: Estimated $30.00/hr x 20 hours = $600.00 (includes student life director and event staffing, in-kind provided by DCTC). Actuals not yet available.
Faculty time: Estimated $50.00/hour x 20 hours = $1,000.00 (in-kind provided by DCTC). Approximately 10 hours have been expended to date, with an additional 10 hours in fall 2010.
Energy Expert: Estimated $50.00 / hour x 4 hours = $200.00 (in-kind provided by Dakota Electric); pending completion of event.

Grant funds: $0 Match: $500.00 (in-kind provided by DCTC) Total: $500.00

Revised Budget for Project:

LED Lamps: $12,930.00
Misc. Supplies Objective 1: $470.00

Results Data:

Results data is not currently available. Students should be able to calculate initial results in early Spring 2011 for inclusion in the final report.