The use of on-campus solar power has increased 450% in the last three years. American colleges now have 137 MW of installed solar energy, said the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), which has created a database of hundreds of campus solar PV installations across the U.S. The amount found equals to the power used by 40,000 U.S. homes.
In 2010, the market for solar power on college campuses was over $300 million in the U.S., or 5.4% share of of the US total of 956 MW. Since 2009, the median project size has grown six fold. Only five states installed more solar in 2010 than the 52 MW installed on U.S. campuses.
One of the reasons for the growth is the decrease in cost (40% over the last four years) and new financing mechanisms that make it cheaper. It also helps campuses to hedge against rising electricity prices and stabilize costs. Not to mention the opportunity to educate students and future professionals about the benefits of alternative energy.
AASHE’s said its new database is designed for higher education solar advocates to browse success stories at campuses of a similar type, size and location and drive further solar development on campuses. Users of the database can find examples like the University of San Diego, which took advantage of federal and state incentives through a Solar Power Purchase Agreement to install 5,000 panels on 11 campus buildings, providing up to 15 per cent of the campus’ electricity at below market rates and with little upfront cost.
AASHE recruited the sponsorship of AMSOLAR as part of its strategy to promote on-campus solar power. “We are very pleased to have AASHE member and supporter AMSOLAR sponsor the PV database. As part of their sponsorship, AMSOLAR has agreed to serve as a technical resource, fielding questions from the campus sustainability community,” said Paul Rowland, executive director of AASHE. “We think that is critical, because nobody knows the ins and outs of designing, installing and financing solar projects like professionals in the industry.”
Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.
2 comments
Good to hear that Universities are starting to install solar power for their energy sources. Every University should be doing this.
Good. The next step is broadcasting their courses in a multimedia form so that costs can be drastically cut. Classroom size is no longer limited. Tablet type computers are dirt cheap. Bring education to the poor and don’t stop at any man made border. Multi lingual translation allows the human race to benefit from the great minds around the world. Not the chosen few of the prosperous, who continue to buy the politicians that make the laws that benefit these few that are now slobbering over the golden spoons placed in their unworthy mouths. It is the next hurdle that the bonded within human slavery need to jump. If a child has motivation and ambition, let the gate of learning be opened. Toddlers of the world unite!! You have nothing to lose but your chains.
Comments are closed.