On our campus, located in a huge field near the entrance of the university, are over 10,000 or so solar panels. These panels transport the energy from the sun and save it up to be used in the buildings. Using these solar panels reduce your use of fossil fuels, which then decreases pollution on our earth. This way of energy conservation is an excellent source and should be looked upon by other schools. Although cutting down the trees that were located in the space used, in the end we save a lot of energy from the solar panels. These panels power many buildings which are located throughout the campus. Solar panels have a magnificent environmental impact here at Florida Gulf Coast University. Speaking of solar powered machines, we also have trash compactors that are generated from the solar panels in the fields of our campus. Every time the trash compactor is closed, the machine crushes the trash and makes it very compressed. This saves on trash bags and is an awesome way to save money.
Solar panels are an excellent way to save energy. They are an important alternative to energy producing technology as opposed to nuclear power plants which are super dangerous and expensive. With solar panels, they can be left unattended for a majority of the time. With other technologies, the systems will be costly and high maintenance as well as harmful to the environment and those around us. Although expensive, in the long run, these solar panels save energy and money. FGCU will spend a total of about $8.5 million dollars putting in solar panels on the campus. Florida Gulf Coast University planned to make a sixteen acre solar panel field devoted to saving energy on campus. Along with this enormous field, solar panels will also be located on top of buildings and parking garages. On average, the university will save $875,000 every year and $22 million in a thirty year period. The solar panels will generate more than one-fourth of the power each year. Every year, FGCU plans to become more environmentally friendly.
“Environmentally, the benefits are equally dramatic. As a clean energy source, annually the solar energy field will prevent an estimated 9,000 pounds of nitrogen oxide, 14,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 5.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide from being introduced into our environment”. Specifically, nitrogen oxide destroys our precious ozone layer and inhaling sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory distress. Nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxed are gases that are given off mostly by coal from different industries.
Solar panels are composed of silicon and non-reflective glass. When the silicon is placed beneath this glass, a photovoltaic panel is created. This specific panel converts light into electricity. Since Florida is the “sunshine state”, it only makes sense that Florida Gulf Coast University contains a device that runs off of its beaming sunlight. The panels absorb photons, or basic units of light, from the sun, converting them into electrical power. Next, the power is pushed through an inverter. This inverter transforms this energy into voltage and electrical power.
