Formula Grant DESE0001880

ENERGY EDUCATION: THE KCC CONTRACTS WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EXTENSION TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE. THE GOAL WILL BE TO WORK ON EXPANDING RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION THROUGH PRESENTATIONS, WEBINARS, INFORMATIONAL FACT SHEETS, EXPLORING RESOURCES TO DETERMINE RELIABLE AND FACTUAL INFORMATION AND EXPLORING OTHER SUCCESSFUL ENERGY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP IN PREPARATION FOR THE NEXT THREE YEAR GRANT CYCLE. THIS MAY INCLUDE CONTRACTING FOR ADDITIONAL FOCUS. K-12 ENERGY EDUCATION: A KEY FOUNDATION TO THIS PROGRAM IS THE BELIEF THAT THE BEST WAY TO INFLUENCE FUTURE ENERGY CONSERVATION, IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY, REDUCE RELIANCE ON ENERGY AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND OUR ENVIRONMENT IS THROUGH OUR K-12 STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM IS DEVELOPED AROUND THOSE GOALS AND HOW TO ENGAGE STUDENTS THROUGH INTERACTIVE LEARNING. BUILDING A WIND TURBINE FOR COMPETITION, FOLLOWING CLUES TO ESCAPE FROM AN ENERGY-THEMED BREAKOUT ROOM OR PEDALING A BICYCLE TO SEE HOW MUCH ENERGY IT TAKES TO POWER VARIOUS TYPES OF LIGHT BULBS, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF EXPERIENCES THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES TO STUDENTS AT NO COST. THE KCC CONTRACTS WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EXTENSION STAFF TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO THE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS. EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE COMMUNITY - IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE ENERGY LIBRARY WHERE TEACHERS CAN BORROW EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING WIND TUNNELS, ENERGY SENSORS, ANEMOMETERS AND MORE. WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL INCLUDING GAMES, PUZZLES AND QUIZZES FOR ALL AGES. THIS YEAR THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND THE ENERGY LIBRARY, AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS. WE WILL REACH OUT TO VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS AND KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (KSDE) TO TRY TO IDENTIFY AREAS WHERE WE CAN COLLABORATE TO INCREASE ENERGY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES. INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS - WE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPLORING WAYS TO EXPAND THE K-12 ENERGY EDUCATION PROGRAM TO REACH MORE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, AND TO MAKE THE LEARNING PROCESS EFFECTIVE AND FUN. ONE INNOVATIVE APPROACH IS THE ENERGY BREAKOUT ROOMS, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO THE ESCAPE ROOMS POPULAR IN MANY COMMUNITIES. THE ENERGY BREAKOUT ROOM TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY BY SOLVING PUZZLES, BREAKING CODES AND THINKING ANALYTICALLY WHILE USING PROFESSIONAL TOOLS. THE GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO INCREASE THE USE OF THE BREAKOUT ROOMS, AND CONSIDER DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIONAL BREAKOUT ROOM TOPICS. THE KCC WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRACT WITH K-STATE ENGINEERING EXTENSION (KSU-EE) FOR SUPPORT IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING MAINTAINING THE ENERGY LIBRARY THAT HAS EXPANDED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS AND THE COORDINATION OF PROVIDING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT TO TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE. KSU-EE IS INITIAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR K-12 PRESENTATIONS, EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL INVENTORY, LOGISTICS OF PROVIDING MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THE K-12 ENERGY EDUCATION OBJECTIVES ARE MET. THE ANNUAL KIDWIND CHALLENGE ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE POWER OF WIND BY BUILDING AND TESTING THEIR OWN WIND TURBINE AND THEN COMPETING IN A FUN, SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO TEAMS, WIND TUNNELS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT FOR SCHOOLS TO BORROW. THIS PROVIDES A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS ACROSS MULTIPLE SUBJECTS INCLUDING: MATH, SCIENCE, WRITING SKILLS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING. IT ALSO TEACHES THEM ABOUT TEAM WORK, COMPROMISE, AND HOW TO FACE CHALLENGES AND TROUBLE SHOOT PROBLEMS. A GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO EXPAND FROM FIVE REGIONAL CHALLENGES TO SIX AND THEN THE STATE CHALLENGE IN TOPEKA. TEAMS CAN THEN ADVANCE TO THE NATIONAL KIDWIND CHALLENGE. K-12 BENCHMARKING: THIS PROGRAM STARTED IN JANUARY 2020 AND WAS SLOWED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND SCHOOLS GOING TO REMOTE LEARNING. THE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED TO GET STUDENTS AND TEACHERS EXCITED ABOUT ENERGY AND OFFERS TEACHERS AN ALL-INCLUSIVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY CURRICULUM THAT INCLUDES PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT AND GUIDANCE, AT NO COST TO THE SCHOOLS. THE KCC CONTRACTS WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EXTENSION TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE. THE CURRICULUM MEETS NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS AND CAN BE ADAPTED TO VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS. IT IS A FOUR STEP PROCESS WITH EDUCATIONAL VALUE FOR STUDENTS AND ENERGY COST SAVINGS POTENTIAL FOR THE SCHOOL. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES ONGOING TRAINING AND SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. THE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THIS PROGRAM OFFER STUDENTS OPPORTUNITIES TO EXERCISE THEIR SKILLS IN MATH, SCIENCE, BUSINESS, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND ART. STUDENT ENERGY TEAMS TAKE ON THE TASK OF BENCHMARKING AND UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL'S CURRENT ENERGY USE. THE KCC/KSU-EE TEAM CREATES A PORTFOLIO WITH INFORMATION ON CURRENT UTILITY COSTS AND SCHOOL OPERATIONS TO TRAIN THE TEAM AND HELP THEM GET STARTED. THE STUDENT ENERGY TEAM CONDUCTS AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY TREASURE HUNT USING PROFESSIONAL ENERGY AUDITING EQUIPMENT TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO REDUCE ENERGY LOSS AND SAVE MONEY. THIS EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOLS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHED ENERGY LIBRARY. THE STUDENT ENERGY TEAM DOCUMENTS ITS FINDINGS TO SHARE WITH ADMINISTRATORS AND STUDENTS. THIS CAN LEAD TO EFFICIENCY PROJECTS AND STUDENT AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS. THE STUDENT ENERGY TEAM DOCUMENTS COST SAVINGS THROUGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR WILL BE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN BENCHMARKING, GET MORE SCHOOLS ENERGY STAR CERTIFIED, CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE SCHOOLS IN THE PROJECT, AND PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THOSE SCHOOLS THAT MAY NOT HAVE MET THEIR ENERGY REDUCTION GOALS. IN COLLABORATION WITH KSU-EE, THE KCC WILL LOOK FOR WAYS TO EXPAND THE PROGRAM AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO SCHOOLS, THROUGH ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, SCHOOL CHALLENGES, INCENTIVES AND TEACHER TRAINING. THE BENCHMARKING PROGRAM WILL BE MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING, THE NUMBER THAT IMPLEMENT ENERGY SAVING MEASURES, THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS, THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS AND SQUARE FOOTAGE. FCIP: KANSAS CURRENTLY HAS 12 PRE-APPROVED ESCOS. THE PROGRAM HAD TO BE REVAMPED AND REFOCUSED AFTER LANGUISHING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE FOCUS THIS YEAR WILL BE TO RE-ESTABLISH THE FACILITY CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (FCIP) IN THE STATE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES WITH STATE AGENCIES AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS INCLUDING CITIES, COUNTIES, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS. KCC STAFF WILL WORK TO GET THE STATE ESC CHAPTER ACTIVE IN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL AND MAKING PRESENTATIONS ON THE VALUE OF ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING. THE KCC CONTRACTS WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EXTENSION (KSU-EE) STAFF TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE INVESTMENT GRADE AUDIT AND PERFORMANCE CONTRACT. KCC AND KSU-EE STAFF WILL PROVIDE SUPPORT TO ELIGIBLE PUBLIC ENTITIES. THIS WILL BE TRACKED THROUGH THE NUMBER OF ENTITIES REACHED AND PROVIDED INFORMATION TO ABOUT ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING, THE NUMBER INVESTMENT GRADE AUDITS REVIEWED, THE NUMBER OF ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS REVIEWED, THE NUMBER OF BUILDINGS, AND THE PROJECTED SAVINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE NUMBER OF MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION REPORTS REVIEWED IS AN IMPORTANT METRIC. WE HAVE HAD AN INCREASE IN NON-GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST IN ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING. WE WILL EXPAND OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ABOUT ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AND GUARANTEED ENERGY PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING TO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. THIS FITS WITH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE ENERGY CONSERVATION AWARENESS. THE KANSAS STATUTES (K.S.A. 75-37,128) REQUIRE AN ENERGY AUDIT OF STATE BUILDINGS EVERY 5 YEARS AND THE AUDIT RESULTS ARE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE KANSAS SECRETARY OF ADMINISTRATION. ADDITIONALLY, NO LEASE SHALL BE APPROVED WITHOUT AN AUDIT. HOWEVER, THE STATUTE WAS AMENDED TWO YEARS AGO THAT ALLOWS THE SECRETARY OF ADMINISTRATION TO WAIVE THE AUDIT REQUIREMENT IF DETERMINED TO NOT BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE. ENERGY DIVISION STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO WORK WITH THE FACILITY MANAGEMENT OFFICE TO REVIEW THE LAST SEVERAL AUDITS AND TRACK WHICH FACILITIES NEED AN AUDIT, WHICH ONES ARE NOT ENERGY EFFICIENT AND REACH OUT TO STATE AGENCIES AND FACILITY MANAGEMENT STAFF TO TRY TO IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN STATE OWNED AND LEASED BUILDINGS. THIS HAS HISTORICALLY, NOT BEEN AN EASY PATH, BUT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING THROUGH THE IIJA, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS. THE AUDITS IN THIS PROGRAM WILL BE PERFORMED BY PRE-APPROVED ESCOS AND THE KCC AND KSU-EE WILL REVIEW THOSE AUDITS AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION TO THE ENTITIES CONCERNING THE AUDITS AND ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACT. ADDITIONALLY, THE KCC AND KSU-EE WILL REVIEW THE ANNUAL MEASUREMENT AND VERIFICATION (M & V) REPORTS AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE, INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING THE M & V REPORTS. ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED ACROSS OTHER SEP GRANTS INCLUDING THE EERLF. SMALL BUSINESS ENERGY AUDIT PROGRAM: THE KCC CONTRACTS WITH KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING EXTENSION TO PROVIDE THE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR PERFORMING ASSESSMENTS/AUDITS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO FURTHER TARGET RURAL COMMUNITIES AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THIS PROGRAM HAS COMPLETED MORE THAN 150 AUDITS, WITH A MAJORITY OF THOSE FOR GROCERY STORES AND FARMS, WHICH ARE VITAL BUSINESSES FOR THESE RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO SURVIVE AND REVITALIZE. AUDITS HAVE ALSO BEEN COMPLETED FOR FOOD PROCESSORS, RETAIL STORES, RESTAURANTS, AND AGRICULTURE PRODUCERS. THIS YEAR WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE AUDIT ASSESSMENTS AND ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES WITH APPLYING FOR THE USDA REAP GRANTS. WE WILL CONTINUE OUR ENERGY EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO INCLUDE, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HOW TO REDUCE THEIR ENERGY COSTS/USAGE TO IMPROVE THEIR SUSTAINABILITY. THIS WILL BE MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF AUDITS/ASSESSMENTS COMPLETED, THE TYPE OF BUSINESSES, SQUARE FOOTAGE, PROJECTED KWH SAVINGS, THE NUMBER OF USDA REAP GRANTS APPLIED FOR AND THE NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS, ARTICLES, AND FACT SHEETS (FAQS). WE WILL LOOK FOR ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIVE OPPORTUNITIES WITH OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CONTRIBUTE ADDITIONAL FUNDING/GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES, SO SMALL BUSINESSES CAN IMPLEMENT THE ENERGY AUDIT RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION TO ASSIST SMALL RURAL BUSINESS TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY. ADDITIONALLY, WE WILL DEVELOP SUCCESS STORIES TO SHARE AT VARIOUS CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE RURAL OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE AND OTHER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VENUES. WE PLAN TO EXPAND THIS PROGRAM TO ANY SMALL BUSINESS IN AN UNDERSERVED AREA OR WITH LIMITED RESOURCES. WE HAVE INCREASED REQUESTS FROM SMALL BUSINESSES INCLUDING NON-PROFITS, AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HOW TO IMPROVE THEIR FACILITIES TO BE MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT.