FAU Solar Roof Array a First for Fort Lauderdale

Florida Atlantic University is serious about providing leadership in the development and use of sustainable technologies. One excellent example of this can be found on the roof of the FAU/BC Higher Education Complex in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where the city’s first large-scale solar roof array has been installed. I’m extremely proud to report that this initiative was undertaken as the direct result of an idea put forth by FAU graduate student Rachel Kalin.

In his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, Governor Crist said, “Florida’s universities are taking a leadership role in the state’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable energy technologies. The research done at universities like FAU not only prepares our future workforce, but also fosters advances that will lead to more ‘green’ jobs.” FAU is the first university in South Florida to
utilize photovoltaic technology in an initiative of this type. The project, headed by Dr. Jaap Vos,associate professor and director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning in the College of Architecture, Urban and Public Affairs, and conducted by Advanced Roofing, Inc., is funded by a generous private gift from an anonymous donor, as well as Florida Power & Light, the State of Florida Solar Energy System Incentives program and other state sources.

The installation consists of 240 photovoltaic panels that are designed to produce about 50,000 watts of electricity per year. Among the annual benefits it will yield to the University and the environment are:

• Preventing 70,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions
• Saving 4,000 gallons of oil
• Conserving more than 4,200 trees

And here’s an especially interesting footnote: A portion of the building’s utility bill savings will be used to provide a Sun Fund Scholarship for one graduate student each year in the School of Urban and Regional Planning. This is believed to be the first scholarship of its kind in the nation to be completely paid for by the sun. Through this important initiative, FAU is providing a model of sustainable, renewable solar energy capture for other buildings in downtown Fort Lauderdale and throughout the Sunshine State.

Reprinted from Summer 2009 FAU Newsletter. For more information, visit http://www.fau.edu.