After three years of planning, the University at Buffalo unveiled a 6,300 square foot array of solar paneling on the rooftop of Norton Hall this Thursday.
The photovoltaic (PV) panels, installed in October by the Chevron Energy Solutions Company, will be capable of producing 73.5 kilowatts - enough energy to power 735 100-watt light bulbs, or roughly the annual equivalent of 10 National Grid customers in Western New York.
These PV panels are a new and permanent installation into UB's efforts of creating clean and renewable energy resources that cumulatively help to save money and the environment.
"Taken in the context of a very long term conservation program - going steady for 30 years - the savings are estimated at $10 million a year," said Mike Dupre, associate vice president of facilities. "And we are currently exploring other ways of increasing this amount."
The new solar panels will be providing Norton Hall with six percent of its annual electrical needs, needing virtually no maintenance, by converting free DC power extracted from the sunrays, and converting them into AC power.
The electricity then enters into the Norton's circuits and is distributed about the building, slowly paying for itself.
"The PV project pays for itself in energy savings," Dupre said, referring to the $561,000 price tag on the panels. "This is groundbreaking in using energy savings to pay for a project."
For a large part, the New York State Energy Research and Developing Authority (NYSERDA) picked up the price for the PV panels project. They provided the initial $367,500, while the university incurred the remaining balance.
"There is no better leader than UB at reducing energy consumption," said Peter Sigurdson, regional manager of NYSERDA. "But the reason we provided funding was the educational component of the PV systems. We thought it was important because it can be used as a teaching tool, and a community educational tool."
According to Joe Fox, coordinator of the SUNY Energy Buying Group, there are other intangible advantages to renewable energy that cannot be measured by a dollar sign.
"Projects like this are infinitely important to reduce our impact on the environment," Fox said. "I think the project here at UB - a non-carbon emitting source of energy - is what the university needs to do, and what we are trying to do across the state."
According to Walter Simpson, UB Green energy officer, this vanguard example of clean, renewable energy resources has the potential to make an impact in and around the state educational system as well as the community at large, through awareness and education.
"There are many campuses, particularly in California, that have solar panels," Simpson said. "But they are typically smaller, used for classroom purposes. Our PV system is one of the largest in New York State."
Simpson also said that the size of the solar panels on Norton's roof - almost the size of an ice rink - is supposed to make a statement - that these PV panels are the key to the future of energy.
"UB's PV system will continue to provide energy without fuel, without maintenance or emitting carbon for many years," Simpson said. "It will contribute to UB's goals in public service and academic excellence."
For information about the solar roof, the university has created a Solar Lounge on the third floor of the Undergraduate Library in Capen Hall. There, students can get a view of the panels and learn about renewable energy. There will also be a traveling exhibit, called "Energy for the Future," that can be seen around campus.
Next Wednesday, UB Green will be hosting the public unveiling of the PV panels on the second floor of the Undergraduate Library in Capen. The event is free and open to the public, from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
