Historic Harvard Updated with Modern Solar Power
The Arsenal on the Channel is a modern real estate complex near Harvard that resides within a set of historic buildings. The buildings date back to the early nineteenth century but they have been recently remodeled to provide the most up-to-date office leasing space in the Harvard area. The buildings have gotten even more modern recently with the addition of a full solar panel system on the rooftop of one of the historic structures.
The new 500-kilowatt solar panel system is going to provide power to Harvard University. Some of the most important details about this just-completed project include:
- Harvard has committed to purchasing power from this system for at least the next two and a half decades. It’s going to be really interesting to see how solar power changes during that time and what they use it for over the next several years.
- The system should be able to generate the same amount of power that would be needed to power over 80 homes. This means that it’s a fairly strong resource that Harvard will clearly benefit from.
- The carbon dioxide offset from the use of the new solar panel system should be over 360 metric tons per year. This isn’t just something that’s great for Harvard; it’s great for the Earth.
- The design and construction of the solar panel system reflects a joint effort by three different companies. CarbonFree Technology, Integrys Energy Services, Inc., and SunPower Corp. all worked together to make this happen. That shows that this is a sector in which collaboration is just as likely as competition.
- The tiles on the rooftop are tilted slightly. This is said to be much more energy efficient than flat solar panels which is something that other solar panel projects will want to remember in their design.
Harvard is a place with a lot of history to its name. Even the buildings of the area have been preserved in many ways in order to honor that history. However the school isn’t afraid to do things that are totally modern. This solar panel project is an example of such a forward-thinking action by the school.
Source: http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/01/harvard-gets-shiny-new-500-kilowatt-solar-power-system/
Publish Date: 2010-01-13 14:55:01
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