Browsing by Subject "Duke"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    A Financial and Policy Analysis of Small Photovoltaic Ownership for Investor-Owned Utility Customers in North Carolina
    (2013-04-24) Kataoka, George
    As a source of clean distributed generation, small solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential investor-owned utility (IOU) customers can yield significant benefits to their owners along with a cleaner energy mix, strengthened economy, and improved environment for all citizens of North Carolina. However, the major barriers to small PV investments on a larger scale remain the high upfront costs and poor return on investment. Yet, North Carolina has significant drivers, including declining costs and strong policy, that may make such investments more attractive in the future. This Master’s Project is split into two parts. Part I investigates the current policies and incentives that impact small PV investment decisions for IOU customers in North Carolina. Part II builds off the research gained from Part I in order to quantify the financial attractiveness of such investments for an average Duke and Progress Energy customer. Part II additionally performs scenario and sensitivity analyses to assess if and when certain factors can significantly alter investment decisions. The results of this project indicate that despite effective policies and incentives in North Carolina, small PV ownership is still a financially unattractive investment—the reference cases yield a net present value (NPV) of less than -$6,000 and -$8,000 for the Progress and Duke customer, respectively. Yet, the impact that such policies and incentives—namely the state and federal investment tax credits—have on these respective NPVs should not be overlooked as they effectively increase the NPVs more than twofold. At the same time, there are many opportunities to further improve the financial attractiveness of such investments, including improvements in net metering policies, the state’s Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard requirements, and demand for Solar Renewable Energy Credits. In such manner, this report does not offer specific policy or financial recommendations. Rather, it is an in-depth analysis of existing policies and economic factors intended to provide both qualitative and quantitative insight for the benefit of small PV investors, the PV industry, and decision makers in North Carolina.
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    Carbon Offset Opportunities at the Duke University Health System
    (2012-04-26) Shown, Erin; Wallis, Kimberly; Lin, Ye
    The Duke Carbon Offsets Initiative (DCOI) is collaborating with the Duke University Health System (DUHS) to obtain carbon offsets that will aid in fulfilling the University’s pledge to be carbon neutral by 2024. This study identified and prioritized financially feasible projects within the DUHS that would lead to carbon offsets. A number of carbon reduction opportunities were identified within the DUHS: medical waste management, renewable energy opportunities, energy efficient kitchen equipment, lighting upgrades, organic waste management, and sustainable tableware. Funding from the DCOI would allow the DUHS to invest in projects beyond what its current budget allows while at the same time generating carbon credits for the University thereby benefitting both parties.
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    Evaluation of Environmental Behavior Change Methods at Duke University
    (2011-04-29) Marturano, Alissa; Wang, Ning; Kumar, Varun
    Duke University is a leader in initiating programs geared towards campus sustainability. This project aims to conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of several campus sustainability programs including Green Devil Challenges and Eco-Olympics run by Sustainable Duke and related student groups in creating sustained environmental behavior change in the areas of energy, waste and water management. There are three analysis contained in this report. First, results from Green Devil Challenges were assessed statistically to quantify the actual behavior change achieved by these programs. Second, a three-part survey and a thorough qualitative analysis were used to see if freshman students improved their personal environmental behaviors after participating in a month long energy, waste, and water reduction Eco-Olympics competition. Third, we deployed a quantitative analysis and econometric program evaluation techniques to analyze students’ historical electricity consumption data from 2001 to 2010 to illustrate the effectiveness of Eco-Olympics competition. The analysis of Green Devil Challenges answers Sustainable Duke’s specific questions in Challenges design and implementation. The key findings from Eco-Olympics evaluation indicate that assessed initiatives have been successful in creating an overall positive behavior around campus towards sustainability, but also identify areas which need attention for an all-round focus towards environment and an effective implementation of sustainability.
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    Leadership for Thriving: A Framework to Lead the Business Community to Sustainable Behaviors
    (2023-04-25) Olivares, Magdalena
    Climate change is a complex problem whose solution is still far from being on track. Although we have advanced a lot in terms of knowledge and awareness of the problem, we are struggling to transition to sustainable actions. Corporations have the key to unleash a substantial potential contribution to facing this challenge moving forward. Developing new business models that move their operations away from current environmental damage is needed. Their potential to leverage their connections with consumers and other stakeholders, educating and influencing them to be part of the solution, and joining efforts to adjust lifestyles and preferences for sustainable consumption also presents a huge opportunity. For these challenges, corporations need to face the transition from a technical to an adaptative approach. But corporations are not prepared to run this challenge on their own; integrating the environmental impact in the business model requires the support of environmental experts. This research is based on the hypothesis that there is an opportunity to enhance sustainable behavior transformation by improving communication and collaboration between business and environmental professionals. With this purpose, the research was done through a qualitative comparative analysis that looks to contrast the perspective and resources those professionals have with respect to climate change, looking for the interconnection of joint possibilities that can be approached in a more collaborative manner. The ecological self maturity, nature experience, and knowledge of environmental professionals make them the best candidates to support corporate change. But there is a learning challenge for environmental professionals as well, since technical acumen is not enough to lead such large and complex adaptative changes in human systems in the corporate world. This framework aims at providing a tool for environmental professionals to effectively hone their skills to lead and communicate with corporate audiences and guide them towards effective actions to tackle environmental change. Leadership for Thriving combines this perspective of leadership and inspiring storytelling with the optimistic approach of the breakthrough movement of thriving, which inspires the examples and reflections of this proposal.
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    Sustainable Duke: Sustainable Investment and Procurement
    (2016-04-28) Siegel, Kait; Tso, Melissa
    Since President Brodhead signed the American College & University President’s Climate Commitment in 2007, Duke University has committed to achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. After developing a Climate Action Plan to achieve this goal, the Campus Sustainability Committee (CSC) chose to move beyond greenhouse gas emissions and work on larger campus sustainability issues. Each year, the CSC chooses a new focus area; for fiscal year 2015, a dual focus on sustainable investment and procurement was chosen. This study focuses on current Duke practices concerning the two areas, peer university benchmarking, and the progress of the CSC subcommittees tasked to deal with these issues. Based on data collected through web-based research, interviews with staff at Duke and peer universities, and observational research at subcommittee meetings, a series of recommendations for the CSC were developed.