Bryant University
PAE-19: Community Sustainability Partnerships

Bryant's Chafee Center has been active in the local community to promote sustainability in the areas of energy efficiency, alternatives, business development, education, and curriculum. Sponsored by the state of Rhode Island, Bryant partnered with RITE Energy Solutions to establish the BRITE Team, which includes approximately 30 members from the local community. Representatives include members from the manufacturing and business community to Higher Education and K-12 schools in Rhode Island, all of whom share an interest in reducing energy costs and making their buildings more efficient. The BRITE team interviewed partners and explored energy efficiency best practices from around the world to produce a set of practical recommendations that could be adopted in Rhode Island to achieve the energy efficiency goals set by the state. In a separate energy study, Bryant's Chafee Center analyzed 53 high schools in RI to explore their capabilities for using alternative energy sources from solar and wind, to other alternatives like bio-mass and biothermal to improve their energy efficiency opportunities. The Chafee Center has conducted various training programs and public forums around the state to educate people on techniques in energy efficiency and the practical application of developing and utilizing alternative energy sources. Open to the RI university and business community, the Chafee Center has worked with Bryant University departments in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the College of Business, including faculty and research students, to convert their findings into usable curriculum models. This has resulted in practical internships, further research, and ongoing collaboration.