Sustainable Energy Projects, Econ 309 4th Unit Lab (Prof. Hackett)
The assignment was to use economic and financial tools in an Excel spreadsheet to critically analyze the net present value
and internal rate of return from either a renewable energy project or an energy efficiency project. The projects had to be
based on actual site conditions, and reflect best available information on system costs, installation costs, energy cost
savings. Students also had to project defensible energy cost inflation over the project's lifetime. These analyses
were done by Economics majors, minors, and some motivated students from Business Administration and a few other
majors. You can access an illustative subset of these projects below.
Analysis of a home PV system (Omar Avendaņo)
Analysis of
energy-efficient light bulbs (Aaron DeWulf)
Analysis of
energy-efficient windows (Josh Peterson)
Analysis of a dairy/swine anaerobic digester (Haley French)
Analysis of home compact fluorescents and ghost current energy efficiency (Dan May)
Analysis of home rooftop insulation and double-glazed window energy efficiency (Carmen King)
Analysis of solar PV to power a small farm's crop refrigeration demand (Amon Mueller)
Analysis of a solar hot water heater (Lauren Jameson)
Analysis of biofuel from algae in wasterwater treatment ponds (Brandon Hemenway)
Analysis of solar PV to power a thoroughbred horse ranch (Phil Doerr)