At its January meeting, Ohio University Board of Trustees discussed a project to install three rooftop solar panel arrays on facilities within OU’s Athens campus.
“The solar panels will be placed on Walter Field House, Ping Recreation Center and an existing solar array will be expanded on top of a former coal storage building next to Lausche Heating Plant,” Alex Semancik, university spokesperson, wrote in an email.
This is a $2.06 million project that would be funded by internal bank financing and is predicted to lead to cost-savings within the university. OU will be able to generate its own electricity on-site, leading to utility operating budget savings.
Jonathon Cozad, associate vice president of design and construction, said after 15 years when the system is paid off the university can expect to get another 20-25 years of production from the panels.
Based on the financial plan for this system, OU can expect 40% of the $2 million from the internal bank to be refunded by year two of production, and by year four there will be a net positive impact to the operating budget, Cozad said.
“Financially it saves the university operating dollars and it also puts this asset on our campus,” Cozad said.
Sam Crowl, director of sustainability, said the installation is part of a decarbonization strategy OU has implemented to attempt to become carbon neutral by 2050.
“Every little bit helps, and it's also sort of a test case to show that we can size a proper rooftop array on a building that can really perhaps provide all the electricity for that building,” Crowl said.
Crowl said the university does not currently have any large solar installations, but has several small ones in various areas including The Ridges, the Eco House and the campus compost facility.
“These are small enough that they are certainly lowering the electricity bills for those individual buildings, but in the large scheme of things … they’re kind of a small piece,” Crowl said.
Crowl said the university has looked into other forms of sustainable energy sources as they have taken steps in developing strategies to become carbon neutral.
Some of these steps included switching from burning coal to using natural gas in 2015 and researching affordable sources of renewable energy, such as geothermal energy.
“The university is committed, and we'll have to look long-term about what strategies make the most sense for reaching the 2050 goal of carbon neutrality,” Crowl said. “There are lots of different technologies that are being explored now that might make some of these steps more affordable and more efficient.”
Charlie Bartels, a freshman studying environmental science and sustainability, is the environmental affairs commissioner within Student Senate. From a student perspective, Bartels said she thinks the university is currently lacking in finding ways for students to be involved in its sustainability efforts and hopes there is a way for students to become involved with this project.
“I hope they're doing this to make an impact on how we use our energy, and I hope that it's a concerted effort,” Bartels said. “It's a continuous effort to keep working at a more renewable energy-focused campus.”
Bartels said she acknowledges that majoring in environmental science and sustainability and having the position of environmental affairs commissioner provides her with access to more information about these initiatives.
Crowl said many students are not aware of the solar panels the university has because they are often located on rooftops. With this project, he wants to raise awareness of OU’s sustainability efforts. This is why Walter Field House was chosen as a location for the panels.
“Not only would it be seen from all over, but particularly from the west stands at Peden Stadium during a football game, you're going to be looking right out at the array on top of the Walter Field House,” Crowl said.
Bartels said she is proud of OU for taking steps toward becoming a more sustainable campus.
“I think this is a good thing, I just wish I knew the extent to which they mean,” Bartels said. “There are a lot of buildings with empty roofs begging for solar panels to be placed on them … It is a productive thing, I just hope it's a consistent thing.”
