Cassandra Vangellow / WUFT News
The University of Florida's new solar panel, located outside Rinker Hall.
Progress Energy Florida recently awarded the University of Florida a new solar photovoltaic system to assist the university in saving more energy.
This new solar panel system “is expected to generate about 157,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) a year,” according to the press release regarding the dedication. To put that figure into perspective, an average household uses “1,000 to 1,200 kWh per month.”
Parts were divided between Energy Park, the Microbiology Building on Memorial Road and an array at Rinker Hall.
UF was chosen “based on its commitment to offering students energy education and resource tools, among other considerations,” the press release said.
The SunSense solar energy program, with Progress Energy, provides no-cost solar installations 10 public schools and one post-secondary institution per year through 2014.
“As a university, our long-term goal is to be able to produce 15 percent of our energy needs with renewable energy sources within the next decade,” said Curtis Reynolds, the UF vice president for business affairs. “A ground-mounted system of this size is a first for our campus. The system not only reduces campus greenhouse gas emissions, but also yields significant cost savings.”
