The UO Outdoor Program (OP) will celebrate the completion of the second phase of its Solar Project on Thursday, June 5, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the EMU Outdoor Program Barn with food and refreshments provided by Holy Cow Vegetarian Foods.
As part of the second phase of the Solar Project, the OP recently added a 5-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system on the OP Barn. The 5- kilowatt PV system was added to the already installed 5.88-kilowatt PV system.
The addition of the new PV system was made through a $28,351.51 grant from Bonneville Environmental Foundation, which doubled the project’s original funding from its phase one partners.
The Solar Project was started three years ago as a learning opportunity for student staff to identify opportunities for the Outdoor Program to reduce its impact on natural resources.
“I believe it is important to facilitate education in stewardship, not only in the backcountry but also right here in our community,” said Dave Villalobos, operations manager for the Outdoor Program.
Four student interns from the OP, in partnership with the Energy Management Program at Lane Community College, performed a facility analysis, identified sources of energy waste and analyzed alternative energy production methods, as well as potential improvements to current infrastructure.
Through that research, it became clear that energy usage was a top priority, and the opportunity arose for the Outdoor Program to install a solar voltaic system. The OP received funding from the Student Sustainability Coalition as part of its student sustainability fund. The Associate Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) also awarded the Solar Project $17,120 as part of its over-realized funds.
With funding secured in February 2013, the Outdoor Program worked with Advance Energy Systems to install the phase one system. The first phase was installed Aug. 7, 2013, and approved by the Eugene Water & Electric Board on May 29, 2014.
After the completion of phase one, the Outdoor Program, with assistance from the Office of Sustainability, quickly began work on phase two of the Solar Project. With funding from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the Outdoor Program added the additional 5-kilowatt PV system to the OP Barn.
To date, the PV panels have generated 5.09 megawatt-hours, which is equivalent to approximately six months of electricity consumption for the average household in the United States.