Native American Energy Plan Optimization (NAEPO) Tool

Based on his work with the Pinoleville Pomo Nation, Tobias has created a tool to optimize the costs of implementing sustainable housing and renewable energy generation systems on Tribal Lands.

NAEPO integrates Tribal housing and energy needs to create cost-effective, carbon-efficient energy plans for Tribes.

NAEPO has been used in the design of new housing to be built on PPN lands.

The Native American Energy Plan Optimization (NAEPO) Tool allows Tribes to identify the most cost-effective means of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Its outputs include a list of recommended equipment options for three degrees of freedom offered to Tribes in the implementation of energy plans:

  1. Improvements in existing housing stock (retrofits).
  2. Design of sustainable new housing.
  3. Creation of renewable energy portfolio plans.

NAEPO has already been used in the optimization of the energy systems of the PPN Prototype Roundhouse, resulting in energy savings of nearly 50%, when compared to nationwide averages. Go to the live website for the PPN/UCB partnership here, and to learn more about the roundhouse.

The diagram below shows the inputs and outputs of the NAEPO model.


Design needs for housing and energy system are integrated with regional information, to produce an optimum equipment list for implementation by the PPN.