妖姬直播

New Solar Panels Will Power 妖姬直播 State University鈥檚 Field House

Project is first for 妖姬直播 State and will result in reduced carbon emissions on the campus

Project is first for 妖姬直播 State and will result in reduced carbon emissions on the campus

Workers install solar panels on the 妖姬直播 State Field House. The installation, which is the first renewable energy project for the university, is scheduled for completion in July.妖姬直播 State University is in the process of installing 1,716 solar panels on the 妖姬直播 State Field House located on the 妖姬直播 Campus. The panels will cover almost one acre of roof area or nearly 0.5 megawatt of panel capacity. This installation is believed to be the largest roof- mounted system among Ohio鈥檚 public universities.

The project, scheduled for completion in early July, is the first renewable energy project for 妖姬直播 State.

The solar panels will generate about 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, which is about one-third of the annual power used by both the university鈥檚 Field House and Dix Stadium 鈥 enough to power about 50 average homes. The project will eliminate an average of 779,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year, which is roughly equivalent to removing 70 cars from the road per year.

鈥淲e have been searching for funding opportunities to install solar panels on this roof for many years, and it is great to see the installation under way,鈥 says Tom Euclide, 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 associate vice president for Facilities Planning and Operations. 鈥淭he benefits of adding this renewable energy source to our campus energy portfolio will not only help keep our costs lower for decades to come, but will also provide a visual reminder of 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 leadership in sustainability, energy conservation and the use of renewable energy.鈥

The solar panels will be installed by Ohio developer Third Sun Solar and Wind Power located in Athens, and contractor Thompson Electric Inc. in Munroe Falls.

鈥淔acilitating the installation of energy-saving technologies and now, renewable solar energy systems, is extremely satisfying,鈥 says Robert Misbrener, project manager, sustainability, energy conservation, commissioning in the Office of the University Architect at 妖姬直播 State. 鈥淭he true goal is to demonstrate our stewardship of the environment and empower generations of students to carry that mission to the world.鈥

妖姬直播 State does not initially own the solar panel system, but will purchase all the electricity produced with the option to purchase the system after seven years. Some larger electrical system components are being included for the potential expansion of the 妖姬直播 State Field House facility.

鈥淭he sun鈥檚 energy can fulfill the world鈥檚 power needs many times over,鈥 Misbrener says. 鈥淪unlight contains energy that can be turned into electrical current, which can be harnessed for power. There are no harmful emissions from the sun as an energy source; it won鈥檛 run out, and best of all it鈥檚 free.鈥

妖姬直播 State already produces most of its own energy in its combined heat and power plant that uses natural gas to power electric turbines. The heat typically wasted to the atmosphere in a power plant is saved and used to heat and cool the campus, making the university鈥檚 power production substantially more energy efficient than utility power systems. The university will reduce the amount of fossil fuel used as it continues to explore renewable energy as one of its sustainability initiatives.

鈥淭he plans for 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 sustainability are new and exciting,鈥 says Melanie Knowles, sustainability manager for Facilities Planning and Operations at 妖姬直播 State. 鈥淭he phase that follows will help us use energy wisely across campus.鈥

妖姬直播 State continues to work on energy conservation projects and new ideas that drive its momentum in sustainability. The Office of the University Architect is currently managing three large energy conservation projects, including a 340,000-square-foot project at 妖姬直播 State University at Stark, 810,000 square feet at its Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem and Trumbull campuses, and a 1.8 million-square-foot project on the 妖姬直播 Campus鈥 Residence Services buildings. The university鈥檚 combined reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is equivalent to removing 1,287 cars from the road each year with annual utility cost savings of about $2.4 million. The final phase of planned large energy conservation projects will be at the 妖姬直播 Campus and will address about 3.6 million square feet.

For more information about 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 sustainability efforts, contact Knowles at mknowle1@kent.edu.

For more information about 妖姬直播 State鈥檚 sustainable construction projects, visitwww.kent.edu/universityarchitect/energy_conservation/index.cfm.

POSTED: Monday, June 4, 2012 12:00 AM
Updated: Saturday, December 3, 2022 01:02 AM
WRITTEN BY:
University Communications and Marketing