Going Green with "Go Oregon"

Monday, April 27, 2009

Clackamas Community College is retrofitting some its oldest buildings to energy-saving green systems, thanks to the Go Oregon state stimulus package. The changes are expected to save the college thousands of dollars a year.

CCC, along with community colleges across the state, received funding through the Oregon Stimulus Package, state legislation that targets deferred maintenance work and creates jobs in the community. Work on the projects must begin by May 1.

Among the projects CCC will undertake is converting three older college buildings — Pauling, McLoughlin and Randall — to solar-heated hot water. “This is a significant change for the college,” said Bill Leach, dean of Campus Services. “All hot water in these buildings — including the showers in the gym in Randall — will be powered by renewable energy sources.”

The solar thermal system uses a glycol process that absorbs radiation to heat the water. The system will utilize some of the existing systems to provide hot water during conditions when the solar effect is not producing enough energy to provide hot water. The college is working with the Energy Trust of Oregon, which offers tax incentives for businesses meeting energy performance measures.
The college is also adding energy efficiency controls in its Oregon City and Wilsonville buildings. The controls will give the college the ability to regulate heating and cooling systems by building and room, resulting in significant savings to annual utility costs.

“This is exciting for Clackamas,” said Courtney Wilton, vice president of College Services. “We are beginning to change the direction of how this institution uses energy and what we do with the energy we get.”

The Go Oregon funds require a match from the college and can only be used for capital maintenance projects. “The stimulus projects allow us to look at alternative approaches that not only save money, they reduce our carbon footprint,” Wilton added.

For more information, contact Tina Birch at 503-657-6958, ext. 2221.