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University Highlights Energy Preservation

NC State as a community is raising the bar and engaging the issues of energy and the critical need we have as an institution to connect our activities with those off campus to carve out a brighter future for North Carolina.

NC State professor Bill Winner

Learn More about Energy At NC State

By Dave Pond, Web Communication 

On Tuesday, Jan. 15, NC State celebrated the "Year of Energy" with the dedication of North Carolina’s largest grid-tied photovoltaic solar panel array, located on university property near the RBC Center in Raleigh. Following the ceremony was NC State's inaugural Energy Fair, which brought together concepts detailing how NC State and its partners can envision complex solutions to energy issues.

"Our state is an importer of energy at a cost of about 16 billion dollars per year," NC State Chancellor James L. Oblinger said during his State of NC State address in September 2007. "Reversing that equation — even a little bit — would be a long-term economic driver for the state.

"If we're going to play a lead role in that effort, we have to start on our own campus," he said. "We can provide significant leadership from NC State in this high-priority area."

The hunt for alternative and renewable energy sources fuels research across the globe, and Tuesday's solar-array dedication highlighted NC State's commitment to continuing those efforts.

"The project has brought together university researchers with local businesses and utilities and is supported by federal funds," U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said in a October 2007 visit to NC State. "I hope it will serve as a model for future renewable energy projects."

Unlike most solar arrays that produce electricity for a specific light, building or facility, NC State's array - located on university property near the RBC Center in Raleigh - puts electricity on to Progress Energy's grid.

"This array will produce enough electricity for seven or eight typical houses," said NC State professor Dr. Bill Winner, coordinator of activities for the university's Energy Council. "The value of the array is more than the electricity it produces, and includes NC State's partnerships with financial institutions, non-profit organizations and contractors that build these kinds of facilities.

"There's a lot of value in taking that first step toward engaging partners and rethinking ways to provide alternative energy sources for people in North Carolina," he said. "It's really panned out in an interesting way that's emblematic of all the strengths this university brings forward."

Following the dedication, NC State held its inaugural Energy Fair on The Brickyard, located on North Campus just south of Hillsborough Street in front of D.H. Hill library.

"The Energy Fair kicked off a series of events scheduled throughout the semester that will continue to raise issues surrounding energy," Winner said. "It's designed to help students become more aware of the way we use energy and to focus student thinking on the NC State Year of Energy.

"I don't know of other universities that have such an event like the Energy Fair, so we are very proud of it."

The event encouraged students to think about energy at all levels, starting with electricity. Fairgoers were able to pick up free compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy and last up to 10 times longer than normal incandescent light bulbs.

"One of the great ways to conserve electricity on and off campus is simply swapping out incandescent lighting with compact fluorescent lighting or - down the road - LED lighting, which is even more efficient," Winner said.

Fair organizers also had copies of the university's "Contract With the Environment" on hand - a document developed by the burgeoning Wolfpack Environmental Student Association and the Campus Environmental Sustainability Team. In addition, a downloadable version of the contract has been placed online for students to review, sign and return electronically.

"By simply signing this contract," Winner said, "students can make a pledge to live, think and engage others on energy issues while promoting conservation and sustainable energy use on campus."

Finally, a number of Energy Fair exhibitors gave students an up-close look at hybrid vehicles, plug-in vehicles modified to run largely on battery power for sustained distances and even buses that utilize the same technology.

"There was a full range of exhibits that not only touched on electricity, but broadened the scope to include other topics like transportation, " Winner said.

The breadth and depth of energy-related expertise and NC State gives the university a special responsibility to be fully involved with energy issues.

"Over the next 50 years, the issues of energy are going to become more complex and more difficult to solve," he said. "We must step up our efforts to expose students, staff and faculty members to the pressing need to rethink the way energy is produced, distributed and used.

"NC State as a community is raising the bar and engaging the issues of energy and the critical need we have as an institution to connect our activities with those off campus to carve out a brighter future for North Carolina," Winner said. "The Year of Energy highlights that commitment."

Related Links:

• Wolfpack Environmental Student Association
• Energy at NC State
• Energy Saving Tips

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