SACRAMENTO – The California Community Colleges Board of Governors has recognized Coast Community College District, Peralta Community College District, Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District, Orange Coast College, Butte College and select faculty as recipients of the annual Excellence in Energy and Sustainability Awards for the implementation of Proposition 39 projects.

Established in 2012, the awards honor top, exemplary campus energy projects demonstrating excellence in annual energy cost savings, environmental sustainability and job creation.

“We commend these community college leaders who are improving energy and environmental sustainability on their campuses,” said California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Tom Epstein. “Achieving climate goals is a top state priority and we encourage community colleges to take aggressive action consistent with those goals.”

Awards are granted in the following categories:

o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Proposition 39 Projects;
o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiatives;
o Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion.

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Proposition 39 Projects

Best Overall District – (Large): Coast Community College District—Interior Lighting Retrofit
Coast Community College District completed a campuswide interior lighting retrofit at the Golden West College campus. The project is estimated to save 611,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $120,000 in cost savings each year.

Honorable Mention: San Francisco Community College District – Controls Upgrade in the Batmale Classroom Building

Best Overall District – (Medium): Peralta Community College District – Interior Lighting Retrofit
Peralta Community College District performed a campuswide interior lighting retrofit at its Berkeley City College campus. The project is estimated to save 443,310 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $59,000 in cost savings each year.

Honorable Mention: San Mateo County Community College District – Skyline College Exterior LED Lighting Project

Best Overall District – (Small): Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District – Multiyear Tehama Solar Photovoltaic Project

Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District funded a 126 kW solar photovoltaic parking lot shade structure system at their Tehama campus. The solar power generated will reduce the energy purchased by 167,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $44,000 in cost savings each year.

Honorable Mention: San Luis Obispo County Community College District – Boiler Retrofit

Retrofit Project Winner: Orange Coast College – Stadium, Gym and Theatre Lighting Retrofit
Orange Coast College performed interior and exterior lighting retrofits at their stadium, gym and theater facilities. The project is estimated to save 777,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $72,000 in cost savings each year.

Honorable Mention: College of San Mateo – Exterior LED Lighting Project

Commissioning Project Winner: Butte College – Main Campus Monitoring Based Commissioning (MBCx) Project

Butte Community College District implemented a Monitoring-based Commissioning (MBCx) project in 29 buildings to improve operational efficiency of various HVAC systems. The project is estimated to save 47,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually, which equates to $2,500 in cost savings each year.

Honorable Mention: Butte College, Skyway Center – Skyway Center Monitoring Based Commissioning (MBCx) Project

Renewable Energy Winner: Butte College, Skyway Center – Solar Photovoltaic Project
Butte College constructed a new parking lot photovoltaic shade structure system at its Skyway Center campus. The project will generate approximately 232,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually, offsetting utility purchases and saving $43,000 each year.

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Faculty/Student Initiative Award

Dr. William T. Scroggins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mt. San Antonio College – Climate Action Plan
Three faculty members at Mt. San Antonio College developed a comprehensive Climate Action Plan.

Excellence in Energy and Sustainability – Sustainability Champion

Marlene Dunn, Vice President of Business Services, Long Beach Community College District
Marlene Dunn created an Integrated Energy Master Plan with the goal to meet and exceed the legislative requirements of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act and several executive orders to reduce energy usage in buildings and achieve Zero Net Energy.

Medhanie Ephrem, Interim Director of Facilities, Long Beach Community College District
Medhanie Ephrem developed projects ranging from central plant optimization measures, energy management system improvements, retro commissioning of two buildings for more energy efficient operations, and several LED lighting retrofit projects.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 115 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year.