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SOLAR PANEL ARRAY – Rend Lake College introduced Thursday that the set up of an extra photo voltaic panel array on the Ina campus has been accomplished.
INA – Rend Lake College introduced Thursday that the set up of an extra photo voltaic panel array on the Ina campus has been accomplished.
According to an RLC information launch, Rend Lake College has partnered with SunVolt Solar Inc. for the $130,000 buy and set up of a 26-panel photo voltaic array. This is the second array put in at RLC’s primary campus in Ina. RLC officers estimate that the faculty’s vitality price financial savings within the first yr can be $4,300, and over 25 years the financial savings are estimated to be $138,000.
The new panels are positioned subsequent to the prevailing photo voltaic panel system positioned close to the Agronomy Innovation Center and the Applied Science Center. The new photo voltaic array is not going to solely cut back the faculty’s vitality consumption, however will even function a constructive instance for surrounding communities to work towards vitality sustainability and environmental consciousness, Sentinel archives mentioned.
The buy of this photo voltaic array was funded by way of an Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN) grant. Formed in 2008, IGEN is a consortium of all 39 Illinois group faculty districts with a mission to supply a platform for collaboration amongst all these faculties and their companions to encourage inexperienced progress. economic system, the information launch mentioned.
Also on Thursday, RLC introduced that the faculty has changed 1,887 lights with improved, energy-efficient LED lights throughout campus. The replacements have high-efficiency drivers and can use about 161,900 kWh per yr, mentioned an RLC information launch.
The replacements, which price $129,071, had been additionally funded by way of a grant from IGEN. Campus buildings receiving LEDs embody the Learning Resource Center, Science Building, Applied Science & Technology Center, Academic Building, Administration Building, Vocational Building, Agronomy Innovation Center and Student Center, the discharge states.
This challenge is a giant step in RLC’s objective to vary all lighting throughout campus. Previous estimates confirmed the faculty had an estimated vitality financial savings from the substitute fixtures of 153,750 kWh per yr and a price financial savings of greater than $9,500 per yr, Sentinel archives mentioned.
Kim Wilkerson, RLC’s Vice President of CTE & Student Support, spoke Thursday on the photo voltaic array and the LED lighting upgrades.
“The funds offered permit us to lighten our carbon footprint, be extra environmentally acutely aware and be higher stewards of our tax {dollars} with these supplemental sources of vitality and financial savings,” Wilkerson mentioned.
For extra details about these initiatives, contact Rend Lake College.
tmorse@morningsentinel.com