Alamo Colleges – Kethia Chheng – 2013

Goals

Alamo Colleges (ACCD) enlisted Kethia Chheng to work on a set of energy efficiency and clean energy projects as an EDF Climate Corps fellow. 

Solutions

First, he evaluated its energy efficiency endeavors. Those projects were an audit of recent lighting retrofits and a greenhouse gas report. The audit found that ACCD has saved approximately 18 percent on consumption and 14 percent on costs as a result of the retrofits. The GHG report found that purchased electricity and commuting were the two largest sources of emissions.

Then based on his other observations, Chheng made recommendations revolving around purchased electricity including partaking in a demand response program, building a co-generation plant and installing vending machine controls. Chheng also recommended that ACCD implement Zimride, a social networking tool that organizes carpools.

Potential Impact

His recommended projects could save over $280,000 in costs, approximately 3 million kilowatt hours in consumption and annually reduce approximately 13,000 metric tons of GHG emissions. The Zimride project alone could reduce emissions by approximately 2,000 metric tons of GHG emissions as well as decongest parking and save users money on gas.