As Earth Day 2013 approaches, Savannah Technical College has announced it will continue its commitment to sustainable technologies by training students to install and maintain renewable energy technology for solar, wind and solar thermal.
This spring the college started its wind energy class, and this summer will offer a photovoltaic systems or solar energy class.
“We know sustainability continues to be a driving force in how businesses make their decisions for future growth and development,” said Savannah Tech President Kathy Love. “It is important for Savannah Technical College to prepare students for a variety of sustainable industries including renewable energy, green-building construction, energy efficiency, alternative fuel technology and historic preservation.”
Last summer students enrolled in the photovoltaic systems class installed a 28.2 kilowatt system of solar panels on the college’s Industrial Technology Building. This installation doubled the college’s solar panel footprint from 120 to 240 panels. Each panel has a 230-watt capacity.
Department head Lester Wiggins uses two installation methods for each set of panels to teach students the power of heat’s effect on electricity. The set of panels installed last summer has the same wattage as the previously installed panels, but it produces more energy due to its raised racks.
“Heat is electricity’s biggest enemy,” said Wiggins. “By installing the newest set of panels five inches higher on the roof, they will stay cooler and produce more power.” Raising the panels produces approximately 6 percent more energy or an additional average of 208 kilowatt hours per month.
Savannah Tech’s energy consumption has increased for its industrial technology programs since the first solar panel installation.
The college switched to a semester system in fall 2011 and began offering extended class hours. It also increased the hours welding students used the building, so energy consumption increased while purchased kilowatt hours decreased.
The solar panels not only decreased the college’s energy needs from Georgia Power but also put energy back into Savannah Tech’s power supply.
Through using solar panels the college has reduced its carbon footprint by more than 160,000 pounds since May 2011.