Sustainability: A Priority at Kent State; E-Inside; December 12, 2011

Kent State University’s recent solar-powered LED light purchase is not only an investment in the future of the school, but also in the future of the planet. The light fixture installed at the PARTA bus stop on Summit Street, across the road from Whitehall Terrace apartments, runs on photovoltaic (PV) power. It uses solar panels to convert solar radiation into a form of electricity that can be used and stored in a battery for night-time use. This is more environmentally friendly than the traditional coal or other fossil fuel-burning methods used to create electricity. Melanie Knowles, manager of sustainability, says that Kent State is working on a renewable energy master plan. “We were looking at options for solar and wind technologies,” says Knowles. “We realized very quickly that there are a lot of different technologies, and we wanted to make sure that what was implemented was the best possible thing for the campus.” The move to solar power follows the initiative started by other Ohio universities. Oberlin, Mount Union, Bowling Green, Ohio University and Youngstown State all have solar PV installations. Knowles says there are no plans to move the entire campus to solar power anytime soon because moving to a completely new source of energy would be a very large investment, and Kent State’s carbon footprint is relatively low. The university gets 60 percent of its electricity from its own power plant. This is more environmentally friendly and efficient than getting electricity from a third party since the university uses the waste heat produced from the plant for other purposes. However, Knowles says that other uses for alternative energy are in the works. “One of the things that have been talked about is the roof of the field house,” she says. “It’s a metal roof so it’d be very easy to add solar panels to that. It’s very likely to be one of the first things we implement with a larger scale of solar power.” For now, this is the only solar-powered light fixture that will be installed around the campus. The bus stop is in a location that’s not very accessible to light, and the cost of getting standard electricity to it would be high. The solar alternative should be less expensive than installing a separate power service and meter, but the payback will be relatively long. Environmentally, it’s the more attractive option for the long run. Robert Misbrener, project manager, says rough cost calculations favor solar-powered lighting. “A name brand, good-quality standard lamp lasts about 24,000 hours or 5-1/2 years at best for night time operation,” he says. “Solar-powered lights in outdoor applications last about 65,000 hours – almost 15 years.” For more information about sustainability, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability . Posted Dec. 12, 2011 | Tom Criley