NWTC Service-Learning and Civic Engagement 2017-2018 | Page 18

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT &
E N V I R O N M E N TA L P R O T E C T I O N
SUSTAINABILITY
Oneida Nation Commercial Energy Analysis
Cost/saving analysis
for going green.
For many non-profits, unearthing
budgetary funding for sustainability
consulting would be a considerable
challenge. However, energy audits
help organizations increase
efficiency, lower energy bills, and
can often pay for themselves in
energy savings.
Since the program’s inception,
students in the Energy
Management Technology program
have been providing this niche
service to the community by
providing free energy audits for
local non-profits. In doing so,
the community partner receives
high level recommendations for
ways to improve energy efficiency
and create cost savings, while
the students gain real world
experience and portfolio work.
According to program faculty
member Jenny Brinker, service-
learning projects are one of the
best ways to engage students.
“Every time we do an energy audit
(the students) love it. It’s different
than simply teaching content,
they’re working on real projects for
real clients.”
The Oneida Veterans Services
building opened its doors to
four NWTC Energy Management
students during the 2017-2018
academic year, welcoming the
opportunity for them to perform
an energy audit.
The goal of the audit was to
develop a long-term energy plan
that improves comfort in the
building for veterans, employees,
and guests while decreasing
operating costs and utility bills.
In addition, located next to the
Veterans Services building is a
greenhouse with state of the art
aquaponics agricultural systems.
The aquaponics greenhouse
produces sustainable food for the
Nations’ schools and is used as
an educational tool for areas high
schools and colleges.
This building is maintained at a
considerably higher cost of energy
per square foot and required an
individual energy audit as well.
Once the on-site audits were
completed, the students worked
It’s different than simply teaching
content, they’re working on real
projects for real clients.
- Jenny Brinkler
NWTC FACULTY MEMBER
17