Ohio's Largest Solar Array at Oberlin College

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Oberlin College Completes Solar Parking Pavilion
Largest Photovoltaic Array in Ohio
News Release - April 14, 2006
See Above and Below - GEO Photos Below Taken April 13, 2006 See Lewis Center on GEO
Solar Tours Starting in 2001

A new solar parking pavilion has been constructed over the Adam J. Lewis Center for Environmental
Studies' existing parking lot with the purpose of supplying the remainder of the center's electrical needs.

The pavilion's 8,800-square-foot roof will collect sunlight through 336 PV panels.Sunlight will be
transformed into a maximum of 100 kilowatts of electrical energy, bringing the center's total rated
production (based on peak theoretical output under ideal conditions) to 145 kW, equivalent to the amount
of energy needed to power nearly 15 single-family homes.

"With the installation of the parking pavilion, the College will have the largest photovoltaic array in Ohio
and the largest photovoltaic-run building among colleges and universities in the country," says David Orr,
Paul Sears Professor and director of environmental studies.

Steven Strong, designer of the Lewis Center's PV array and the new solarpavilion, agrees. Strong, a noted
solar advocate, designer, and author, is founder of Boston-based Solar Design Association (SDA). "When
Oberlin's pavilion is finished it will be the first time any college or university has had an academic facility
that is truly photovoltaic energy self-reliant," Strong says. "The beauty is that it's a win, win."

A win for the College and for the City of Oberlin, which will benefit from the center's electrical energy when
surplus energy is exported into the municipality's grid. Electrical energy from the PV panels is also
expected to be distributed into a building next to the Lewis Center which was renovated to house eight
offices and teaching and research laboratories.

"The Lewis Center will go from being an importer of electricity to being a net exporter of electricity on an
annual basis," explains John Petersen, associate professor of environmental studies and biology. Petersen
estimates that the two photovoltaic arrays will produce about 30 percent more electricity than the Lewis
Center consumes on an annual basis.

For artist's rendering and additional info see:
http://www.oberlin.edu/news-info/archive/2005-09-08/

Contacts:
David Orr, Paul Sears Professor and director of environmental studies / See David Orr at
GEO 2004 Annual Meeting at Ohio State
Oberlin College
440-775-8312
[email protected]

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1. interesting/nt