MWCC's Prius Adorned with Energy-Themed, Student-Designed Car Wrap

MWCC's 2008 Toyota Prius is not only energy efficient, it's now an eye-catching billboard on wheels.

This month, the stark white Prius was adorned with a colorful, energy-themed car wrap created by Zak Stoddard, a Computer Graphic Design-Print major at MWCC. Stoddard's design depicts an electrical plug blooming among flowers, text promoting the college's Energy Management and Computer Graphic Design programs, and phrases encouraging onlookers to "Go Green" and "Charge Up Your Career."

Sonya Shelton, an adjunct instructor in the Computer Graphic Design program, initially thought up the idea of a car wrap to simultaneously promote the college's green programs and the work of CGD students. A college team, including representatives from Marketing & Communications, Facilities Management and the CGD and Energy Management programs, met to explore the idea.

The team decided that wrapping the college's hybrid Prius, used to deliver mail between campuses and for employee travel purposes, was a great opportunity to spread the word about the college's academic programs.The wrap, installed by D&G Custom Graphics of Fitchburg, was funded by MWCC Foundation, Inc. through a grant the foundation received from an anonymous donor to promote the new Energy Management program.

 

Shelton and CGD Chair Professor Leslie Cullen were excited to use the car wrap as a learning opportunity and as a way to showcase students' work. Students in Cullen's capstone CGD course, Portfolio Preparation, had the opportunity to submit designs for the car wrap.  

"This project was something unique and quite different than anything our students have done in the past," Cullen said.

The class worked closely with D&G graphics, the same company that applied MWCC's logo and initials to the college's two wind turbines, to obtain a full-size template for the car. Students were then asked to create various layout sketches from the template provided, then created drafts of their ideas in full scale on the template. The project was presented as a real world project from start to finish. The client, David Schmidt, chair of the Energy Management department, came to the class to discuss the project parameters and provide information on the concept of energy management and what the curriculum entails at MWCC, Cullen said.

The Marketing & Communications department provided guidelines for elements to include on the car, such as the college logo, and students researched car wraps, energy management concepts and green solutions for inspiration for their graphics. Ultimately, a variety of creative, attractive submissions were narrowed down to a handful of finalists, with Stoddard's winning submission selected by the college's Executive Council.  

"All the students who volunteered to design a car wrap should be commended for their workmanship and effort," Cullen said. "The final design was chosen by the Executive Council, and I personally couldn't be more proud of Zak Stoddard and his design. Zak has been a consummate professional throughout the entire project, from the initial concept to working closely with D&G Graphics to make sure production went smoothly. Zak deserves a world of credit for his work," she said.

"I look forward to his future successes and am thrilled to have his work showcased and the CGD department recognized every day when the Prius hits the road. Also, I couldn't be more excited about what was learned along the way. The educational value of this type of project surpasses so much of what we could have taught from a book or in the classroom alone," Cullen said.

Stoddard said implementing the project from start to finish provided an invaluable learning experience.

"It was a great opportunity for me because of the people I got to meet at the college through this process," Stoddard said. "I was glad to have this opportunity because it allowed me to gain experience in the field I plan to go into. When I saw this car finished, it made me very proud."

  

Pictured: Computer Graphic Design student Zak Stoddard with MWCC's Toyota Prius, now decorated with the car wrap he designed. 

MWCC Receives Environmental Merit Award from EPA

Mount Wachusett Community College has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its ongoing sustainability initiatives, including the recent addition of two wind turbines.

  

MWCC received an Environmental Merit Award during the EPA New England District's annual recognition ceremony on May 11 at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

MWCC was recognized for exemplifying how an institution can invest in clean energy, reduce  dependence on foreign oil, and ultimately address the global climate crisis. The two wind turbines are expected to generate 97 percent of the school's energy demand. Combined with the college's existing biomass heating, photovoltaic array and solar hot water technologies, MWCC will produce nearly all of its energy on-site.

The merit awards, recognizing valuable contributions to environmental awareness and problem solving, are a unique way that the EPA recognizes individuals and groups that are making significant impacts on environmental quality in distinct ways. Awarded by the EPA since 1970, the merit awards honor individuals and groups that have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts to preserve the region's environment. This year's competition drew 56 nominations from across New England.

Turbine Dedication Ceremony Ushers in New Era of Sustainability at MWCC

Prominent state and local leaders joined Mount Wachusett Community College officials, faculty, students and staff members to usher in a new era of energy sustainability during a dedication ceremony April 27 celebrating the college's two new 1.65 MW wind turbines.

Together, the turbines are expected to generate approximately 97 percent of the college's electricity demand, plus return an additional 30 percent of power back to the energy grid. When combined with existing renewable technologies, the college anticipates generating nearly all of its energy on site and achieving the distinction of near carbon neutrality for campus operations.

"This is a major day in the history of Mount Wachusett Community College," said President Daniel M. Asquino. "The wind project caps off a solid decade of renewable energy initiatives and conservation measures that to date have reduced the college's energy consumption nearly by half, and at a significant benefit to the environment, as well. With the addition of wind power, we enter a new era of sustainability."

President Asquino and the college community dedicated the Vestas V82 turbines in honor of Congressman John W. Olver for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and to Edward R. Terceiro Jr., MWCC resident engineer and executive vice president emeritus, for his leadership on this project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision. Congressman Olver immediately donned an MWCC turbine t-shirt created by students in the college's Computer Graphic Design Club, before addressing the audience.

"If our nation is going to move away from an energy economy based on petroleum and the burning of fossil fuels, and we must do this to slow climate change and save our planet, then we need to invest much more heavily in renewable sources of power," said Congressman Olver. "The wind initiative at Mount Wachusett Community College is a great program that will move us in the right direction on energy. I am proud to have been a part of it and am honored by this dedication."

In addition to Congressman Olver, President Asquino and Mr. Terceiro, featured speakers at the ceremony included Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr., Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison, State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, Gardner Mayor Mark P. Hawke, and MWCC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tina M. Sbrega.

The dedication ceremony coincides with the fourth anniversary of Gov. Deval Patrick's 2007 executive order, "Leading by Example – Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings." The wind project is a collaboration between the college, and the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The JK Scanlan Company, Inc. of Falmouth, Mass. served as general contractors, and numerous Massachusetts companies were involved in the construction.

"Congratulations to Mount Wachusett Community College for achieving near zero net energy status with the commissioning of these two turbines," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. "There couldn't be a more fitting place to celebrate the fourth anniversary of Governor Patrick's executive order establishing the Leading by Example program. From the turbines to a 97 kilowatt solar array to the college's biomass heating system and energy efficiency improvements that have triggered dramatic campus-wide energy savings, Mount Wachusett is truly 'leading by example.' On behalf of the Patrick-Murray Administration, I commend President Asquino and the rest of the college community for their pacesetting efforts," Sullivan said.

The Division of Capital Asset Management played a key role in the college's biomass conversion, as well as the wind project and other campus building projects.

"Today DCAM has a great opportunity to celebrate a long and successful partnership with Mount Wachusett Community College," said DCAM Commissioner Carole Cornelison. "This project has allowed DCAM to put in place two state-of-the-art wind turbines - an important innovation that brings both energy efficiency and sustainability to the campus, while also demonstrating the Patrick-Murray Administration's commitment to providing world class public higher education facilities," she said.

"Mount Wachusett Community College has worked aggressively to pursue new options in renewable energy and today's dedication of the two turbines further cements the college's role as a leader in the national campus climate movement," said Massachusetts Education Secretary Paul Reville said in a statement. "We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with campus leadership as we bolster our sustainability initiatives throughout the Commonwealth."

"As a result of all the renewable energy work that the college has done, sustainability has become the mantra of the college and is now infused throughout the curriculum," Terceiro said. "Everyone has embraced the work that we're doing."

Photos from top to bottom: President Daniel M. Asquino, Ph.D. shakes hands with Executive Vice President Emeritus and Resident Engineer Edward R. Terceiro, Jr.; President Asquino welcoming ceremony attendees at the podium; U.S. Congressman John W. Olver making his moving dedication speech while wearing one of the student-designed wind turbine t-shirts; Edward Terceiro explaining that proceeds from sales of the student-designed t-shirts featuring the "Catch the Wind" turbine design will benefit student scholarships; MWCC Computer Graphic Design students Jon Skinner and Noah Ciccoine at the dedication ceremony; Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. from the Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs addressing the audience; Commissioner Carole Cornelison from the Division of Capital Asset Management speaking at the dedication ceremony; Secretary Sullivan facing the crowd with the two turbines in the background on the Gardner campus of Mount Wachusett Community College. (Photos By Dana Armstrong, MWCC).

Ceremony Set to Dedicate MWCC's Wind Turbines

Mount Wachusett Community College will commemorate the start of a new era of sustainability during a wind turbine dedication ceremony on Wednesday, April 27. The event, which coincides with the fourth anniversary of Gov. Deval Patrick's executive order "Leading by Example - Clean Energy and Efficient Buildings" will take place at 2 p.m. at the main entrance patio at MWCC's Gardner campus.

The college's two new turbines will be dedicated in honor of Congressman John Olver, for his support for funding through the U.S. Department of Energy, and to Edward R. Terceiro, Jr., MWCC executive vice president emeritus and resident engineer, for his leadership on this project and other campus energy initiatives, and to both for their renewable energy vision.

The event is open to the public and will include remarks from Congressman Olver, Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan, Massachusetts Secretary of Education Paul Reville, Division of Capital Asset Management Commissioner Carole Cornelison, State Senator Stephen M. Brewer, and State Senator Jennifer Flanagan, as well as MWCC President Daniel M. Asquino, Executive Vice President Emeritus Edward Terceiro, Board of Trustees Vice Chair Tina M. Sbrega, and Trustee and Gardner Mayor Mark Hawke.

In March, MWCC activated its two 1.65 MW Vestas V82 turbines, which are expected to generate 97 percent of the college's annual electricity demand, plus return an additional 30 percent of power back to the grid. The wind project is a collaboration between the college, the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management, the Department of Energy Resources, the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and the Executive Office of Administration and Finance. The JK Scanlan Company, Inc. of Falmouth served as general contractors and numerous Massachusetts companies were involved in the construction.

The $9 million project is being funded through $3.2 million in U.S. Department of Energy grants, $2.1 million from a low interest Clean Renewal Energy Bond (CREB); and $3.7 million from Massachusetts Clean Energy Investment Bonds.  

Our Sustainability Makeover

Check out this video by Sustainable Step New England. They thought our green efforts were cool enough to come interview our President and Executive Vice President Emeritus and get a tour of our various green facilities.

This video was filmed last summer prior to turbine construction and was recently posted to SSNE's website.

MWCC Broadcasting Alumna Showcases Wind Project

MWCC’s wind energy project caught the attention of alumna Liz Burke, now a broadcasting student at Emerson College in Boston. She returned to the Gardner campus recently to film a segment on the project, interviewing students and President Asquino for a clip created as a class assignment that also aired on WEBN Boston, one of Emerson’s top news channels.

“I chose to do the piece because I believed it made for a great story,” said Liz, who came to MWCC at age 16 as a dual-enrollment student and graduated at age 18 with her associate degree in May 2009. “I think it’s excellent how the college is going the extra mile when it comes to being environmentally friendly. It’s not something many colleges have done.”

To check out Liz’s report, click here: Liz Burke on MWCC Wind Project

One Up, One to Go!

With one turbine up and one to go, MWCC’s wind energy project has reached the halfway mark! Work crews last week attached the three massive blades to the turbine’s hub, then hoisted the entire rotor into place at the top of a 270-foot tower today.

Ironically, it was the wind itself that played a significant role in when the rotor would be set in place, as high gusts and steady breezes on numerous days factored into the decision of when to complete the assembly. “Once we got it in the air, it went very well,” said MWCC Resident Engineer Ed Terceiro.

Waiting at the top to attach the final section were four workers that includes local residents Jean and Chris Cormier, who work for Lumus Construction of Wilmington, Tom MacIsaac, also from Lumus, and Richard Jenkins of Texas, a technician with Vestas, which manufactured the college’s two 1.65 MW turbines.  As a crane operator maneuvered the rotor into place and the four-member team secured it, other members of the construction team were stationed on three tag lines, holding onto ropes attached to the blades to prevent them from spinning.

Throughout the construction of the north turbine, local residents, students and other members of the college community paused to marvel at the extraordinary site. Onlookers yesterday included Gardner resident Ken Johnson, a mechanical engineer with Bose audio company, who was headed to the Fitness & Wellness Center for a workout, but decided to watch the construction instead.

“I was just amazed by the sheer size of the turbines when they were delivered, then over the last couple of weeks I watched the tower go up, and was just fortunate enough to see the blades go up today.” Watching the crew on top of the turbine led him to wonder, “Is there a ladder or a spiral staircase in there?”

Gardner resident Phil Goguen has a nephew who works for a heavy equipment company in Canada that has taken part in turbine construction, and came out to the college to see such a project first-hand. “It’s something you don’t see every day.”

This coming week, the giant Manitowac crane will begin its crawl down the access road to the site of the south turbine, which will be assembled next. Construction is scheduled to begin this week.

Photos by Art Collins and Janice O’Connor of MWCC.

Tower, Nacelle Go Up on North Turbine

The greatest engineering feat on campus since the biomass conversion nearly a decade ago is underway, as crews continue to assemble the first of two Vestas V-82 1.65 MW wind turbines.

After the base was installed on Nov. 20 and sealed with grout, additional sections of the 270-foot tower were installed on Nov. 22 and 23. Following that work, the nacelle, bearing the college's initials and logo, was installed on Nov. 23. Construction will continue Friday, Nov. 26. Once the blades are attached to the hub, the rotor will be lifted into place next week. Then, the assembly process will be repeated for the south turbine.

Students, employees and passersby paused to witness various aspects of the assembly. As each piece was added to create the tower, one couldn't help but marvel at the trio of workers stationed inside, ready to attach and torque the components after they were maneuvered into place by a crane operator from Baldwin Crane and Equipment Corp. of Wilmington. The crew climbing the rungs of an internal ladder to do the assembly consists of Richard Jenkins of Texas, a project technician with Vestas; and a local father and son team, Jean and Chris Cormier, who work for Lumus Construction of Wilmington. Chris Cormier, is a business administration major at MWCC.

One of the differences between open field work, in building construction, for example, and wind turbine construction is "they climb on the outside and we climb on the inside," said Jenkins, who has erected over 150 turbines. "Once you get inside the tower, the height issue goes away. You get a view that no one else gets."

First Base: Crane Sets North Turbine Base in Place

The base component of the north turbine was hoisted into the air and set in place by a mammoth crane on Saturday, following weeks of intense preparation for the lift and marking yet another milestone for MWCC's wind project.

"There are 120 pins that it sits on and it has to be perfectly lined up. It was an anxious moment, but it was very successful," said MWCC Resident Engineer Ed Terceiro, who had the honor of attaching the final bolt.

The base was sealed with grout, which will set for two days before additional pieces are installed. On Monday, the remaining tower sections will be added, followed by the nacelle on top. On Tuesday, the hub and blades are slated to go up. The process will be repeated the week of Nov. 29 for the south turbine.

Prior to the lift, 33 forty-foot trucks delivered crane parts over the course of nine days. A crew of six men assembled the crane that is being used to hoist the turbine components into place.

Among the tasks Friday, print shop manager Don Knower worked with D&G Custom Graphics of Fitchburg to adhere the college's logo and initials to both nacelles.  "We've lettered some weird stuff, but this takes the cake," said D&G manager John Dupont.

Photos courtesy of J.K. Scanlan Project Supervisor Joe DiPietro.

Turbine Foundation Deja Vu

Construction crews built the second foundation at MWCC’s wind energy site this week, duplicating last week's process of creating a solid ring of steel and concrete that will anchor the two turbines into the earth.

Earlier in the week, crews installed reinforcing steel, which will increase the strength of the concrete. Then, on Thursday, crews from S&F Concrete filled the foundation structure with approximately 85 yards of a specialty concrete.

Next week, 30 to 35 trucks are expected to arrive - hauling onto campus the components that will make up the super-crane that will erect the two turbines. The Manitowoc 2250 crane is so large in fact, that it will take another crane just assemble it!

A Firm Foundation

Talk about a firm foundation! The wind turbines at MWCC literally will be anchored to the earth through extraordinary engineering that requires one-third less concrete and other materials than a traditional gravity foundation.

“We’re basically nailing them to the ground,” explained Lloyd Purdy, an engineering technician with EarthSystems Global, Inc., who is on site this week for the foundation work. The California-based company works with Patrick and Henderson, Inc. in providing engineering design support for wind projects.

MWCC’s turbines are being installed with P&H rock/pile anchor foundations. Last week, crews from Emerald Excavation of Plymouth (a WBE – Women Business Enterprise) excavated the two foundation holes. That’s the same company that built the access road and completed the duct bank trenching this summer. Once the holes were excavated, Boart Longyear, a global company based in Utah with a Massachusetts branch in North Reading, drilled 45 to 65 feet into soil and bedrock to install 18 anchors per foundation.

This week, reinforcing steel, called re-bar, was installed in the north turbine foundation to increase the strength of the concrete. Today, crews from S&F Concrete of Hudson filled the foundation structure with 85 yards of a specialty concrete that reaches a higher strength faster than ordinary concrete. Testing agents from Geotechnical Consultants, Inc. of Marlboro and Miller Engineering & Testing of Northboro are providing quality assurance/quality control while the foundation work ensues.

Next week, the process will be repeated when the foundation is built for the south turbine.

“It’s an awesome milestone,” remarked Ted Fiffi, resident engineer with the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management.



Who's Who on the Wind Project?

Who’s involved with MWCC’s wind project? Or rather, who’s not? Well over 100 people will play significant roles in the construction of the two Vestas V82 turbines on the college’s Gardner campus: a team from the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management; Falmouth-based J.K. Scanlan Company, Inc., the general contractor; civil, structural and electrical engineers; project managers and supervisors; drilling contractors; excavators; concrete subcontractors; electricians; truck drivers; crane operators and crane mechanics; turbine technicians; accountants and financial managers, for starters.

And that doesn’t include the specialists involved during years of planning, studies and design; those who secured and are administering federal and state funding for the project; the state agencies and leaders working behind the scenes; the folks from National Grid who will oversee interconnection; or those who manufactured the tower components, long before this summer’s groundbreaking.

While construction continues, a team of 10 key players gathers weekly in the Drake Boardroom to hash out details of the DCAM project, which is part of Massachusetts’ overarching initiative to achieve greater energy independence by 2020.

Seated at the table from DCAM are David Fang, project manager, and local residents Phil Godin, project engineer and Ted Fiffy, resident engineer. From J.K. Scanlan, which was awarded $18.6 million in contracts to build MWCC’s turbines and the neighboring towers going up at the North Central Correctional Institution, you’ll find Andrew Baker, project executive; Greg Inman, project manager; Joe DiPietro, project supervisor; and Chris Grant, general superintendent and safety officer.

Rounding out this construction team are the players from the Mount: Vice President of Finance and Administration Bob LaBonte, who oversees the financial aspects for the college as well as the facilities department, and Bill Swift, director of maintenance and mechanical systems, who ultimately will be among those responsible for the daily operations of the turbines. And of course, there’s Ed Terceiro, MWCC's resident engineer, who as executive vice president set the college down its green path a decade ago with President Daniel Asquino, and kept forging ahead to reach this project, which now amounts to the fifth renewable energy source on the campus.

"DCAM Commissioner David Perini appreciates Ed's experience, not only for this project, but all of the renewable projects on the campus," David Fang said.

For David Fang and Phil Godin, the Mount’s a familiar place. Both took part in building the Garrison Center for Early Childhood Education in 2005, as well as the installation last summer of the 100 kW photovoltaic solar array on the roof of the main campus.  Before that, Phil was part of the biomass project, the 2002 energy conversion that started it all.

The wind project ties in with Governor Deval Patrick's ambitious and historic goal for the Commonwealth - the installation of 2,000 megawatts of wind energy by the year 2020. In September, Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles said the state projects at MWCC and the NCCI are helping to meet that goal. Assisting with that effort is DCAM's Energy Efficiency & Sustainable Buildings Group, also known as "The E-Team," within the Office of Facilities Management, led by Hope Davis as director, Jenna Ide as deputy director, and John Crisley, energy planner; as well as the Department of Energy Resources.

Along with the consultant Jacobs Engineering, the E-Team led the study, initial design and procurement. The project at MWCC also involves contracts coordination from DCAM's Office of Finance, the Massachusetts Executive Office for Administration and Finance, and the MassDevelopment Finance Agency.

Also on the construction sites here and at NCCI is Laura Nieburg, project manager with Vestas Americas, who is responsible for the equipment from delivery until it's brought online.

“A few years ago, John Scanlan had the vision of getting into renewable energy,” the company’s Andrew Baker explains. The leap from solar installation to wind turbines was an inevitable progression for the 26-year-old construction firm, which last year erected a turbine at a Veterans Administration hospital in St. Cloud, Minn. “It’s largely about surrounding yourself with the proper team, and the team we have here has years and years of experience.”