The California State University and Southern California Gas Co. are working together to involve CSU students in service-learning activities that address energy efficiency and energy education. A $50,000 grant from SoCalGas will fund 10 demonstration projects that will lead to course implementation and curriculum development at six CSU campuses.
“Thanks to SoCalGas, students across the state will have the opportunity to participate in energy-related coursework, which will increase their awareness of the field and position them for careers in energy efficiency and conservation,” said Judy Botelho, CSU director of the Center for Community Engagement.
The 10 demonstration projects supported by the CSU/SoCalGas alliance will expand CSU’s efforts to actively engage students in service and learning related to energy, while also building a base of knowledge to grow the program. Projects will take place at Dominguez Hills, Fresno, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona and San Luis Obispo.
“Investing in job-creating educational programs is the definition of sustainability,” said Gillian Wright, SoCalGas director of Customer Programs and Assistance. “The service-learning programs that are being developed will help our economy and improve energy efficiency now, and in the years to come.”
Service learning integrates meaningful community service with academic instruction and reflection, allowing students to apply their disciplinary knowledge for the common good and to strengthen communities. During the 2011-12 academic year, 85,000 students from all 23 CSU campuses contributed more than one million hours to their communities through more than 2,600 service-learning courses. For more information about CSU service learning and the CSU’s Center for Community Engagement, visit www.calstate.edu/cce/.
CSU Northridge: Best Practices in Sustainability
Students in this course are learning about sustainability by conducting energy assessments of campus units in the areas of energy, waste, water and resource use and practices. Students will prepare reports detailing the assessment findings and outline recommendations to improve energy and water efficiency.
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These students will learn that natural gas, our “clean energy” source can be consumed to well over 90% energy efficiency.
With the technology of Condensing Flue Gas Heat Recovery the heat energy can be recovered from the natural gas appliances waste exhaust gases. This recovered energy can then be used back inside the building or facility as building space heating or as heated domestic or process water. At a university or hotel this recovered energy can be heating the swimming pools.
California wants to reduce global warming and greenhouse gas emissions. With the heat energy removed from the exhaust gases, COOL exhaust will be vented into the atmosphere. Some days this exhaust temperature will be cooler than the outside air temperature.
The US DOE states that for every 1 million Btu’s of energy recovered from these waste exhaust gases, and this recovered energy can be used back in the building or facility, 118 lbs of CO2 will NOT be put into the atmosphere.
How many buildings in California have chimneys poking out of the roof, with Hot exhaust being blown into the atmosphere.
How many jobs can be created engineering the methods of increasing these buildings natural gas energy efficiency.
How many more jobs can be created installing these Flue Gas Condenser units, and altering the buildings heating requirements to make this recovered energy to be used as efficiently as possible.
No other state has yet got into targeting methods of increasing natural gas energy efficiency. California can be the leader with Prop 39 and first doing all State buildings and facilities, then the hospitals and industries.
Increased natural gas energy efficiency = Reduced utility bills = Profit
Increased natural gas energy efficiency = Reduced CO2 emissions
Natural gas can be consumed so efficiently that the WATER can be recovered during this Condensing Flue Gas Heat Recovery process.
This clean-distilled water is very usable.
This combusted natural gas is even providing Water Conservation.
How much more efficiently can natural gas be consumed?