Nearly every day, a newspaper somewhere in the country is carrying a story about the success of our clients’ energy conservation programs. Below are just a few examples of the great work they are doing, and the privilege it is to serve them in such tangible, noteworthy ways.
Sun Chronicle October 8, 2007
North's energy star
BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF North Attleboro High School earth science teacher Bob Albertini electrifies his new role as the school department's energy manager. The conservation effort that Albertini heads up is expected to save the district about $4 million over 10 years. (Staff photo by MARK STOCKWELL)
NORTH ATTLEBORO — You might want to call Robert Albertini the prince of darkness.
And given his jovial nature, the longtime high school science teacher's face will light up at the joke before he explains that his new role as the school department's energy manager is about a lot more than just making sure the lights are turned off at the end of the day.
As energy manager, Albertini is in charge of making sure that energy conservation measures are being used at all of the town's schools in a program that is expected to save the district about $4 million during the next 10 years.
The earth science teacher is being trained by Energy Education, an energy management consultant hired by the school committee at a cost of $393,600. All of the money for the consultant is paid for through savings generated by conservation measures — and if the district invests more than it saves, it will receive a check back for the difference.
As the school district's energy manager, Albertini is keeping a watchful eye on energy use in all of the school buildings and is making recommendations for changes that will save energy and ultimately money for the district.
The conservation measures being adopted mostly address practices used after the school day ends- so students will not be asked to bundle up in winter so the temperature can be kept lower or sweat through late spring classes so the air conditioning can be switched off.
"It's about not wasting energy when the schools are unoccupied," Albertini said. "The students and the teachers won't notice anything different - they aren't sitting here in the dark. We want everyone to be comfortable and maximize efficient use of energy."
The job of energy manager has a myriad of responsibilities. Albertini is taking a look at everything from scheduling of custodian's hours to making sure after school meetings are consolidated in as few buildings as possible so others can be shut down. He is also conducting audits of school buildings to make sure energy saving practices are being followed.
"It's everything from checking classrooms to make sure all of the computers are shutting down to walking the roofs at all of the school buildings to make sure the air conditions are working efficiently to determining the best turn on and shut down times for hallway passage lighting," Albertini explained.
It is not unusual for Albertini to spend his evenings in front of a computer at the high school typing in utility bill information from the previous year into a special program called Energy Cost Avoidance program.
"This program takes all kinds of variable into account and will track our savings," Albertini said. "It even looks at the weather so if we have a really cold winter one year and warmer one next year it will take that into account."
When it comes to energy conservation, Albertini is the first one to practice what he preaches. During a after school review session for one of his earth science classes, a bank of lights at the back of the room over an empty set of desks were switched off while lights at the front of the room, where children sat with their notebooks were fully lighted. He also uses energy efficient lightbulbs in lamps in his classroom.
His long interest in energy conservation is the reason that Superintendent Richard Smith hired him for the job, which pays about $20,000 per year.
"Mr. Albertini built a green home back in the 1980's. He has a passion for this at a very personal level," Smith said.
Albertini said his interest in energy conservation dates back to a few engineering courses he took in the 1980's before constructing his home, which is heated with passive solar energy. Albertini said he took on the post in the hopes of saving energy in the school district will make a larger impact.
"We're acting locally but making an impact globally," he said. "We are doing our part to reduce our carbon footprint."