Former NIU student on pretrial release following arrest for creating AI generated child sexual abuse material
Ears what’s coming to DeKalb’s 49th Corn Fest
Food Truck Wednesdays are back
NIU student facing attempted murder charge out on pretrial release, cleared by judge to attend classes
Health Technology Center’s design complete, completion aims for 2029
NIU has spent around $12 million on six new arrays of solar panels being installed across campus, which are expected to supply about 5% of NIU’s daily energy use. 
NIU’s collaboration with Trane Technologies is being implemented as part of the school’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The initiative will result in 50 buildings receiving significant upgrades to energy, water and lighting-efficiency while reducing carbon emissions. The whole plan will cost NIU $56 million. 
Two out of the six planned solar arrays have already been installed, which are located on the rooftops of the Stevens Building and DuSable Hall.
The third solar array, located in the Visitor Pay Lot, is expected to be completed in October. 
According to Sunrun, the number of panels in a solar array determines how much electricity that array can produce. 
Belinda Roller, director of Architectural and Engineering Services, said the remaining solar panels will be installed and fully operational this calendar year.
“Two are already open operationally and have been running and generating power since last November. And then the remaining four, we don’t have the exact dates that they will be turned on, but they will all be fully installed this calendar year,” Roller said. 
The visitor lot was selected as one of the spaces for a solar array because the university wanted the panels to be visible on the central campus, according to Roller
“We’re trying to find a place on central campus that was visible, so people could kind of know about it. Because oftentimes you have solar arrays on roofs, people don’t even know that they’re there,” Roller said.
Roller also said the elevated solar panels provide shade and shelter for those who park in the area.
“The advantage here is they’re on the elevated structures. They’re providing shade for the parking spaces in the visitor lot,” Roller said. “So when it’s 90 degrees outside and you’re parking your car in the visitor lot, you’ll have a little bit of shade, and then also shelter from wind and rain.”
NIU spends approximately $7 to $8 million dollars on electricity annually. The solar panels are set to lower the cost of this bill. According to Trane, the entire Sustainability and Climate Action Plan is set to save $5 million annually and cut down campus energy usage by 26%.
The solar panels have a max generating capacity of 3.2 megawatts, which is 3,200 kilowatts generated at any given point. According to Constellation, the average household uses 30 kilowatt-hours per day. 
If a solar panel was at max generating capacity for two hours, they would produce 6400 kilowatt-hours. This is enough to power 213 average households.
Temperature, clouds, the sun’s position in the sky and many other factors limit the solar panel’s generating capacity.
“On a daily basis, when we are buying power, we anticipate it will buy power for 5% on a daily basis,” Roller said. “The interesting thing to keep in mind is we will be generating energy obviously during the day, right? When it’s sunny outside and that is when electricity costs the most.”
The solar panels will limit the spending on electricity by powering buildings throughout the times that energy is most expensive.
The sustainability plan will have a large impact on the reduction of NIU’s carbon footprint by reducing carbon emissions by 11% while also limiting the University’s spending on electricity. The project is set to be completed by this calendar year.
Already have an account? Sign In
Please enter your username or email address, you will receive a link to create a new password via email.
Cancel reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name *
Email *

source