Green energy tests to begin
Jad Sleiman
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: News
Environmental research began on the campus today to see if College Park is able to sustain a renewable energy power plant.
The Maryland Environmental Service, working in conjunction with Facilities Management, began assessments to gauge the university's potential for using wind, geothermal, solar and biomass power plants. Green energy experts will study the campus in the next few weeks, and their results will help MES conduct an in-depth analysis of the power plants' feasibility.
MES's recommendations, which will be issued to campus planners in several months, could lead to anything from the construction of a handful of small wind turbines atop Denton Hall to a geothermal power plant that would harness the heat energy thousands of feet below College Park.
"The study will be taken into consideration by both Facilities Management and the climate change committee," Energy Manager Joan Kowal said. "I'm pretty optimistic that we'll get some tangible renewable energy projects implemented on campus."
Kowal's search for green energy comes as a response to the Presidents Climate Commitment, which obliges the university to become carbon neutral or pay to support environmentally friendly power plants elsewhere.
The testing and eventual results will take into account cost and feasibility as well as the university's ongoing construction and renovation projects, officials said.
"It takes years and years for the [state] to develop these large-scale projects," said Carol Hearle, a university environmental planner. "If we want to do something in the near term, the best way to do it is to look at the approved capital budget as well as the university's energy needs."
David Ferguson, a researcher with MES, hopes to integrate green energies with the university's master plan.
"We may look at new buildings coming in" and ask "does it make sense to integrate an [energy] system now?" Ferguson said.
MES first partnered with Facilities Management earlier this year, so research is still in its beginning stages. It remains unclear which form of green energy is most likely to be implemented on the campus. Researchers must consider the rapid pace at which solar energy technology is advancing versus its relatively high cost, Ferguson said. With wind energy, they must consider the physical conditions of the region.
The Maryland Environmental Service, working in conjunction with Facilities Management, began assessments to gauge the university's potential for using wind, geothermal, solar and biomass power plants. Green energy experts will study the campus in the next few weeks, and their results will help MES conduct an in-depth analysis of the power plants' feasibility.
MES's recommendations, which will be issued to campus planners in several months, could lead to anything from the construction of a handful of small wind turbines atop Denton Hall to a geothermal power plant that would harness the heat energy thousands of feet below College Park.
"The study will be taken into consideration by both Facilities Management and the climate change committee," Energy Manager Joan Kowal said. "I'm pretty optimistic that we'll get some tangible renewable energy projects implemented on campus."
Kowal's search for green energy comes as a response to the Presidents Climate Commitment, which obliges the university to become carbon neutral or pay to support environmentally friendly power plants elsewhere.
The testing and eventual results will take into account cost and feasibility as well as the university's ongoing construction and renovation projects, officials said.
"It takes years and years for the [state] to develop these large-scale projects," said Carol Hearle, a university environmental planner. "If we want to do something in the near term, the best way to do it is to look at the approved capital budget as well as the university's energy needs."
David Ferguson, a researcher with MES, hopes to integrate green energies with the university's master plan.
"We may look at new buildings coming in" and ask "does it make sense to integrate an [energy] system now?" Ferguson said.
MES first partnered with Facilities Management earlier this year, so research is still in its beginning stages. It remains unclear which form of green energy is most likely to be implemented on the campus. Researchers must consider the rapid pace at which solar energy technology is advancing versus its relatively high cost, Ferguson said. With wind energy, they must consider the physical conditions of the region.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Michele
posted 5/01/08 @ 10:04 AM EST
Good article.
Ryan in Greenbelt
posted 5/01/08 @ 10:17 AM EST
Personally, I would like to see the University become a leader in the Green Energy space. It has become such a huge topic and for all the right reasons. (Continued…)
Jon
posted 5/01/08 @ 1:51 PM EST
I really am looking forward to hearing the results of these tests. Unfortunately most of the research Ive done shows very little potential for renewable energy in the state. (Continued…)
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