Going Solar: Hampshire College Sets an Example
A Hampshire College recently announced that it moved entirely to solar power on Campus. It is known as the first US college to do this kind of transformation with some sort of residential solar power.
Recorder.com stated that the Massachusetts Arts School is now working with SolarCity Corporation which is a subsidiary of Tesla Inc. They came to terms that SolarCity owns and operates the institution´s 15,000 photovoltaic-panel arrays, and, on the other hand, It purchases electricity from the company at a fixed rate. What is more, Tesla gave the college some batteries as backup power in case there is an emergency
The school evaluated that this project might eliminate around 3,000 metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions every year. Besides, it may also save approximately $8 million over 20 years.
Following the Renewable Route
Last December, a 104-year-old heating plant on the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities campus was resurrected as a combination of heat and power or “co-generation” utility. It was deteriorated and decommissioned, however, nowadays, it is 83% energy.efficient, which compared with a coal-fired power plant it is more than its double of efficiency.
The Minnesota University reinvested in Old Main Heating Plant by replacing the old boilers with a new 22.8-megawatt combustion turbine as well as a heat recovery system which might be destined to generate electric power and steam for its campus.
As regards Bucknell University, its energy-saving health and wellness building has earned LEED Silver certification which gave the institution the eighth construction project on campus to gain basic LEED certification.
What is more, the Graham Building, which is 36,000-square-foot, uses just a 26% of energy in comparison to buildings with a conventional energy system. This Graham represented a $12 million investment two years ago. Currently, it is used as the student health center, the counseling and development center, and a training facility for the university’s wrestling team.
Lastly, in October Howard University was able to complete an exterior LED retrofit project to save money, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and improve safety on campus. The project was possible thanks to the fundings received from the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) and to the contractor GB Energie LED, who provided lighting for several sectors such as education, government, commercial and industrial.
It might be concluded that the examples already mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg, much more institutions are following their steps and a significant change connected to energy is being held. It is important to consider that colleges and universities which are huge buildings facilities should pay more attention to energy-consuming as well as protect the environment.
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