CEDAR FASLLS (SPECIAL) – Smart investments in renewable technology at a university can not only save energy, reduce costs and conserve resources, but also provide a unique educational opportunity, which is exactly what’s happening at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) with a photovoltaic solar array project at the campus Multimodal Transportation Center.

The Iowa Office of Energy Independence awarded UNI a $250,000 Technology Demonstration project grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Combined with matching funds of $2,529,430, the project helped create six new jobs, will reduce energy usage by 273,600 kilo watt hours (kWh) and realize an additional $14,500 in annual energy cost savings to the university.

“Projects like the Multimodal Transportation Center solar array have the ability to save the institution a significant amount of energy, resources, and dollars,” according to Eric O’Brien, UNI Sustainability Coordinator. Any time we are incorporating new technologies and making our buildings more efficient, we hope that an educational component can complement the projects.” An educational kiosk at the center showcases in real time, the energy-saving system at work for students, faculty and visitors.

The energy produced from the solar panels help supply almost all the building’s energy needs, making it one of Iowa’s first net-zero buildings. For more information, contact UNI’s Associate Vice President for Facilities Planning, Morris Mikkelsen at (319) 273-2611.