UNC Charlotte put up 224 solar panels on its Facility Operations Building this fall. The panels will offset 117 tons of carbon dioxide each year. They’ll save the school $13,300…
UNC Charlotte put up 224 solar panels on its Facility Operations Building this fall. The panels will offset 117 tons of carbon dioxide each year. They’ll save the school $13,300 in what it spends on power.
The rooftop array cranks out 130 kilowatts. It will produce around 187,000 kilowatt-hours each year. Panels sit on the south-facing side near North Deck to capture maximum sunlight. Facilities Management ran the installation, and the system will power the building while sending surplus electricity into the Duke Energy grid, according to Inside.Charlotte.edu.
What does that much energy do? It could charge 8 to 9 electric vehicles daily or supply power to 21 to 23 homes across the United States each year. When the sun shines, the system could run about 11,400 LED bulbs.
Carbon dioxide reductions match what gets pumped out during 300,000 miles of driving gas-powered cars. Solar energy cuts back on power created by burning fossil fuels.
The installation cost $352,774. That covers design, commissioning, and putting the system in place. North Carolina House Bill 1292 funded the project, which backs energy conservation measures that reduce utility use and operating costs through investments in building systems and infrastructure improvements.
The array will pay for itself in under 27 years by offsetting energy expenses that would otherwise get purchased to power the campus.
The school also added two solar picnic tables behind McEniry Hall beside the pollinator garden beds. Students and staff can recharge devices, study, and meet outdoors at the tables.
The Charlotte Green Initiative funded the tables. It backs other green projects on campus. The student green fund provides resources for renewable energy projects through the Office of Sustainability.
The program website offers information for those interested in exploring renewable energy ideas with campus officials.
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