This spring marks the 18th year of the Rubenstein School’s Greening of Rubenstein Interns class. Research Associate Gary Hawley teaches the course and invites local experts and consultants as guest speakers and mentors to assist student interns, this year, with the retrocommissioning of Rubenstein School buildings for net zero energy

Students engaged with: David Blittersdorf, Chair of the Rubenstein School Board and CEO of AllEarth Renewables; Salvatore Chiarelli, director of UVM's Physical Plant; Marcos Kubow, environmental sciences senior and Clean Energy Fund intern; Todd Merchant, UVM project manager; Gretchen Schimelpfenig from Burlington Electric Department; Michelle Smith, UVM green building coordinator; Kathleen Wells of the Rubenstein School Business Service Center; and Rich Wolbach, UVM energy consultant. Representatives from CX Associates and Raymond Keller from Vermont Gas assisted students with projects focused on building retrocommissioning.

Student interns completed four projects this year. Two groups focused on readying Rubenstein School buildings for net zero energy. Interns quantified the energy used by Rubenstein School buildings to determine how much energy would need to be offset by renewable solar energy. A third group of interns researched the School’s carbon emissions from business travel, commuting, lab and club travel, paper use, waste management, food, and water used. A fourth group focused on water usage in the Aiken Center and investigated how stormwater from the green roof could be used to water plants in the Aiken Solarium. 

Interns will give their final project presentations on May 2, 2019 at 6:00pm in Room 311 Aiken Center. All members of the Rubenstein School community are encouraged to attend. 

Follow the links below to read the mid-semester reports for each student project. Visit the class wiki space for more details and, at the end of the semester, to view final project presentations. You can also learn about past Greening Interns projects.  

2019 Greening of Rubenstein Interns Project Reports 

Offsetting the Rubenstein School’s Energy Use Through Solar Power (PDF)
Student Interns: Hayden Childs, Evan Jean, Kayla Vaccaro 

Seeking Out Solar (PDF)
Student Interns: Peri Buck, Hannah Kershaw, Nesta McIntosh, Jackson Schilling 

Net Zero Scope 3 (PDF)
Student Interns: Jake Gess, Matt Rourke, Siobhan Stimpson 

Horticulture and Stormwater Management (PDF)
Student Interns: Dylan Almieda, Lukas Kopacki, Amanda Lindley, Steven McDonaugh