Georgia Tech Solar Initiatives
Georgia Tech is a large user of power but we reduce the associated impacts by incorporating solar energy into many of our buildings. In total there are over 4,000 solar panels on the Georgia Tech Campus, a total system size of 614 kW. Although many of the locations with solar panels are largely unknown, these projects and buildings are steadily helping reduce Georgia Tech’s energy impact.
The Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons has 360 solar panels which produce about 75 kW. The Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons also uses smart lighting techniques and energy efficient lighting throughout the building, such as daylight harvesting and motion sensors to reduce energy impact.
The Campus Recreation Center (CRC) has 2,856 solar panels lining its rooftop. Finished in 2004 as an addition to the swimming and diving center built for the 1996 summer Olympics, the CRC hosts the largest solar array on Georgia Tech’s Campus.
Completed in 2012, the roof of the Carbon Neutral Energy Solutions Laboratory (CNES) supports 1,210 solar panels and the exterior walls and the top of the parking deck supporting a 249kW inverter capacity. Home to the Strategic Energy Institute, this building is a research hub for fields of energy efficiency and technologies to make renewable energy more accessible and affordable.
The Engineering Biosystems Building (EBB) holds Georgia Tech’s newest installment of solar panels. It opened in 2016 and is located on 10th Street as part of the Biotechnology Campus. Holding enough panels to support a 40 kW power inverter, the building produces 50,000 kWh per year. The EBB is certified Platinum by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building standard.
What’s Next?
As research into renewable energy continues, so too will Georgia Tech’s investment in solar energy. New capital projects help keep the institute on the forefront of energy sustainability. The Living Building at Georgia Tech will be a net-positive energy building, meaning it will generate at least 105% renewable energy compared to its total annual energy consumption. Learn more about this cutting-edge project at http://livingbuilding.gatech.edu/