Campus Green Builder

By Marya McQuirter, PhD
chocolate & arugula 

Claflin University

Legacy Plaza at Claflin University
Photo Credit: Claflin University

Claflin University recently received a $500,000 grant from the South Carolina Energy Office to install the state's first solar absorption system. With an additional federal grant, Claflin will purchase and install the system on its campus.

The solar absorption system will use new and innovative solar technologies to heat water and to cool water for air conditioning. This system is expected to comply with LEED^® standards for HVAC systems.

Claflin will also collaborate with Organic Bio Energy, Inc., a local company, to create the Orangeburg Collaborative Renewable Energy Center, which will be the university's new Bio-Energy Park and Research Campus. This addition will enable Claflin to provide professors, researchers and students an optimal space to engage in biofuels and alternative energy research.

The university anticipates close to $1 million dollars in energy cost savings over the course of the system's use.

Sources:

• Carter, “Claflin Receives $500k Alternative Energy Grant,” HBCU Digest, March 8, 2010.
• T&D Staff, “Claflin receives energy grant,” The Times and Democrat, March 4, 2010.

Texas Southern University

Texas Southern University, Houston
Photo Credit: Texas Southern University, Houston

Texas Southern University is poised to develop a Center for Solar Technology. A partnership with Evolution Solar, an alternative energy company, brokered in February, will help bring the center to fruition.

More immediately, the Engineering Technology Department will work directly with Evolution Solar to begin to develop a solar production and demonstration installation project on the campus. This project will provide the facilities and tools to demonstrate to students, professors and stakeholders the power of renewable energy.

This past week the demonstration project received an enthusiastic endorsement from the National Black Chamber of Commerce's Energy Committee. The NBCC, located in Washington, DC, supports enterprises in the U.S. and abroad.
 

Sources:

• Carter “National Black Chamber of Commerce Endorses Texas Southern Solar Energy Research Project,” HBCU Digest, March 10, 2010.
• Vo, Danny, “Solar energy project underway at Texas Southern University receives national endorsement,” CoolerPlanet.com, March 10, 2010.

Marya McQuirter, PhD is a sustainability consultant, scholar and blogger based in Washington, DC. She works with universities, businesses and non-profits on researching, writing and marketing their sustainability portfolios. She also lectures widely on sustainability and writes about sustainability on her blog, chocolate & arugula.