The Visitor Center now gets its power from the sun. The student organization
ECOalition worked with the Visitor
Center administration and UA Facilities Management to draw up the plans for
the solar panels.
TEP donated the photovoltaic panels through their Greenwatts
Program and Technicians for Sustainability installed the system. This
collaborative effort has helped make the Visitor Center a model sustainable
building at the University of Arizona.
The Campus Agricultural Center has an array of solar panels installed along Limberlost Drive, near Campbell Avenue. These panels
were provided based on the Tucson Electric Power's "Greenwatts" program.
The University has explored opportunities for solar energy in the past, and is currently considering use of solar on several projects. More information will be posted in this location as it becomes available.
A number of improvements in the management of utility systems and related equipment have been implemented in recent years. Below are a number of examples:
The startup of building equipment is being coordinated to manage peak electricity usage.
Steam condensate collectors are used on boilers to allow for return of condensate water/heat to central plant.
Utility tunnels have been insulated to conserve energy.
Chilled water pipes are being burial rather than placed in tunnels so as not to work against steam lines in tunnels.
More efficient cooling towers have been replaced at AHSC.
A project to add meters to all utilities (steam, chilled water, electricity, etc.) has begun which will allow identification of problems such as leaks and in turn will advance conservation.
A "cool coat" has been applied to many roofs to reduce heat absorption and promote cooling.
Residence Halls have installed more efficient electronic controls for chilled water and heat exchangers.
Variable-frequency drives being installed on air handler pumps, allowing adjustment / balancing in power use so as to only use what is needed. Further, this decreases power spikes which enables equipment to last longer. Other improvements in equipment, such as transformers, has contributed to greater electrical efficiency.
Improvements to chillers have produced a 25% increase in efficiency over 4 years.
Newly installed gas turbines (on-campus gas-fired turbines for electricity generation) include heat recovery feature used for creating steam, which decreases boiler use. Clean burning gas fired turbines supply 40 - 50% of the electrical needs of the campus.
Lighting retrofits: Inductive ballasts were replaced with solid state/electronic ballasts, which reduced heat to a degree that energy savings were noticeable via reduction in chilled water demands.
