Oct 5 2010
The State University of New York at Canton (SUNY Canton), a public college, has tasted the power of solar energy by installing a couple of solar panels over the roof of its alumni building.
The panels which were lying idle for a number of years in the college premises were put into use by the students. They have installed the panels over the roof of Nevaldine Hall and utilized the generated power for their studies. The college is likely to install two more panels over the same place and planning to use the generated power for air-conditioning purposes.
Matthew D. Bullwinkel, Professor of Mechanical Engineering in the college, praised the students for getting the required approval for the installation and completing the setting up of the solar panels over the building. He compared the installation of solar panels with that of buying energy saving appliances or fixing insulations for the building. He added that his students studied about solar heating systems last spring, collected details and gave demonstrations to the college administration to convince them and received approval for the installation of two panels over the top of the alumni building. The students worked out details on the costs, made repair works to the alumni house and prepared schedules for the installations. The panels while saving on the energy costs for the college will also offer the students a first level exposure about solar energy and its installation.
Michael J. Newtown, Engineering Technology Professor of the college, said that the system works well during summer days providing up to 180° heat and with little sun the system generates around 120° heat to make the water little warmer. He expressed optimism about more local residents going in for solar installations after watching the performance of the solar systems installed at the college.
Source: http://www.canton.edu/