Established in 2007, The Offset Project (TOP) is a local environmental nonprofit organization devoted to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Monterey Bay Area through education and grassroots initiatives. Comprised of a dedicated team of professionals, TOP works with agencies, businesses, special events and individuals, to increase local adoption of carbon reduction strategies. The Monterey Bay Carbon Fund (MBCF), serves as one of four principal TOP programs. A “sister” program to the UCSC Carbon Fund, MBCF is driving emission reductions throughout the region, with benefits to both the UCSC campus and surrounding community. Presently MBCF has two key “Green Tag” initiatives: (1) Solar for Schools, and (2) Green Travel.

The goal of the proposed project is to catalyze the next phase of MBCF Solar for Schools installations by harnessing UCSC seed funding to generate “panel-ready” projects poised to reduce GHG emissions, create green jobs, reinvest in the local community, and stimulate behavior change for a sustainable future.

MBCF operates in partnership with Monterey Bay Regional Climate Action Compact (MBRCAC), Santa Cruz County Green Schools Program (SCCGSP), United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and other community partners committed to working collaboratively to addressing the causes and effects of global climate change through local initiatives focused on economic vitality and reduced environmental impacts.

In 2013, the Program reached an impressive milestone, celebrating the region’s 1st MBCF-Facilitated Renewable Energy Generation (REG) installation, empowered by community contributions. Installed at Bonny Doon Elementary School by a local solar installer, using local labor, the project provided hands-on green job workforce training in collaboration with Cabrillo College. Students are able to monitor their generation and usage from the classroom for increased educational value. The 31KW system is:
• Generating approximately 40,000 kWh of electricity annually
• Reducing the school’s electricity use by 67%
• Preventing an estimated 1.1 million lbs of CO2 over the 25-year warrantied lifetime

With this benchmark achieved, TOP is launching an enhanced effort to expand the program’s reach, impact and effectiveness by building the pipeline for future installations. Many more schools are ready to follow Bonny Doon Elementary School’s example in line with their own green commitments, but presently lack the technical assistance necessary to support their participation in the program. To jumpstart the next round of reductions, SCCGSP and other partners have prioritized several area Green Schools for future installation.

UCSC Carbon Fund are being utilized to help successfully transition these targeted schools from ‘interested parties’ to “panel-ready” projects, by funding the essential TOP support necessary to conduct relevant site-specific research, educate participants and facilitate action for change by:
(1) Assessing energy use and savings potential for targeted sites
(2) Identifying mechanisms to leverage student inputs, increase energy efficiency (EE), maximize energy savings and minimize renewable energy system size,
(3) Delineating system specifications to attain energy and emissions targets
(4) Qualifying schools to finance remaining costs, targeting cost positive results from Day 1 and rapid system pay-off within 10 years
(5) Removing barriers for an achievable implementation path to ready installation

Successful Outcomes: An initial catalyzing contribution from UCSC, will help lead the project toward the following results:

• Increased pool of “panel-ready” local schools adopting EE & REG
• Decreased electricity bills for cash-strapped green schools
• Reduced emissions estimated at 691 tons, from up to three local projects
• Trained university/college students benefitting from hands-on green job workforce training
• Protected global and local ecosystems by reducing climate change contributing emissions

The following three Major Milestones will guide this project toward successful outcomes:

1. Expand Solar for Schools workforce education by offering UCSC student(s) the opportunity to assist in EE/REG project scoping, design and/or installation activities for targeted schools
2. Acquire & analyze data by obtaining energy usage and financial statements for target facilities helping to assess potential savings and secure appropriate financing
3. Complete energy audit & renewables site visit to identify cost/energy savings mechanisms, right-size REG system, and develop an implementation path to remove barriers to installation to inspire action during and beyond the grant term

These efforts are under way at several schools throughout the region, with the help in part, of funding from UCSC Carbon Fund.