The Energy Initiative
Total School Solutions

In evaluating different solar and alternative energy options, how does one compare different proposals and determine which one is offering the best deal for the district? A typical school district neither has resources nor expertise to sort through the promotional hyperbole and rosy scenarios/projections presented in these proposals. The Energy Initiative can help!

The Energy Initiative has been created to assist district staff with comprehensive and objective evaluation of alternative energy project proposals through:

  •         Needs Assessment – What does it mean to “Go Green?”
  •         Technical/Technology Analysis and Recommendations
  •         Development of Financing Options and Models
  •         Construction of Effective RFP’s and Proposal Review
  •         Legal Services and Contract Review

The cost to examine, analyze and, when the numbers pencil out, implement energy conservation and/or alternative energy projects can be tremendous.  Yet, in spite of staffing cuts and drains to District budgets, we realize that a growing number of school districts want to explore "green" practices.

To help you achieve greater cost savings with green projects, Total School Solutions (TSS) has organized the full spectrum of technical, financial and legal expertise needed to help Districts evaluate, explore and implement energy projects, including sharing the cost of RFP creation, RFP review, and possibly sharing project implementation to increase buying power/leverage in negotiations, when applicable.

As a result, TSS introduced The Energy Initiative, which is outlined below.

A key component of this program is that Districts will have access to the technical, financial and legal expertise needed for your projects, without a connection to a specific energy vendor or service provider and without a bias toward a specific product. 

If you would like to more information about The Energy Initiative, please let us know.    We know that Districts are striving to focus all available resources at student achievement, and so at TSS we strive to assist you by providing services that will help you achieve high quality and cost effective services.

Our Expertise

  • Knowledge of High Performance Schools, CHPS criteria and LEED guidelines
  • Feasibility Studies, including development of possible scenarios
  • Tiered Funding, Utility Rebates and Financing Models
  • Site Assessments
  • Risk Assessments
  • Photovoltaic Applications
  • Defining Technical Specifications
  • RFQ/RFP Document Development
  • Proposal Evaluation and Vendor Selection
  • Structuring Legal Agreements
  • Analysis of Energy Needs and Consumption
  • Analysis of Life Cycle and Project Payback
  • Equipment Ownership vs. Leasing
  • Contract Negotiations, including technical and economic analysis
  • Implementation including Program Management, Contract Management, Performance Management and Technical Oversight
  • Public Awareness and Community Engagement

Our Team

Barry Schimmel, Ed.D.

Dr. Schimmel brings over 35 years of experience as a leader in public education, including serving as Assistant Superintendent, Business and Finance for Hayward USD; Deputy Superintendent for Alisal ESD; Superintendent for Pacific Grove USD and Sunol Glen SD; and Deputy Superintendent for San Jose USD.

Dennis Dunston, AIA, REFP, LEED AP

Mr. Dunston lends over 20 years of experience in California public educational facility planning, design and project management.  Mr. Dunston was involved in developing regulations for the new High Performance Grant Program enabled by AB 127 and Proposition 1D.

Mark S. Williams and Kathleen J. McKee

Partners at Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, Mr. Williams and Ms. McKee are members of the Board of Advisors to Green Technology.  Each has many years of legal experience in transactional law with specialties in land use, construction and energy project, including solar installations for school and community college districts.

For more information about this service, please click here.