Solar Panels on Campus

What many students may not know is that William Paterson University is an eco-friendly campus.  This month, the university is expecting to start the installation of a solar energy facility all over campus.  When completed, the system will be 3.5 megawatts, making it the largest photovoltaic installation in New Jersey and the largest of its kind on any university campus.

            These solar panels will be placed on a number of building rooftops, including the Recreation Center and Wayne Hall. Structures will be built to hold panels up in the air in parking lots five and six and the extension parking at Valley Road. The panels will not affect commuter parking. In fact, they may provide some weather shelter over the cars.

            The university endorsed a 15- year agreement in December of 2009. At the end of this term, they are expected to save over four million dollars. That is an addition four million dollars that the university will have at its disposal.

            WPU does not even have to put up any funding for the installation. The university is partnering up with Sundurance Energy of South Plainfield, New Jersey, for the funding of the installment. Nautilus Solar, a leading electric power generating company, will finance, own and operate the facility.

            When asked why the university has decided to install these solar panels, Louis Poandl, Director of Physical Plant Operations at William Paterson, answered, “Because we are very smart people!” They started investigating and looking into it a couple of years ago. After a few years of proposals, evaluations, and legal agreements, WPU decided it was time to start installations. In the summer of 2007, WPU President, Arnold Speert, endorsed The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Over 600 institutions across the country are a part of the ACUPCC. Their goal is to reduce carbon footprints and achieve climate neutrality.

            “We do it from the point of view of being environmentally conscious and business smart,” says Poandl. The solar energy facilities are not the first eco-friendly aspects of WPU. Many changes have been made in order to reduce the university’s carbon footprint, such as energy management systems and more energy efficient lights in classrooms and offices, as well as eco-friendly zero-emissions smart cars. “Over the years, our programs have saved millions of dollars,” says Poandl.

            WPU is continuing to look into new technologies that will help conserve energy. Down the road, more solar panels will be added in parking lots on campus. There has even been talk about adding wind technology in the future.

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