A brighter Future
As mentioned in the “Kinetic Tiles” post, the new kinetic flooring technology can work hand and hand with other renewable resources. That’s where the second phase of our Eco-friendly and sustainable athletic facility vision comes in. Our plan here at Gridiron Green Gang, includes not only the installation of kinetic tiles, but also the placement of brand new solar panels on top of the seating area. Norwich University is located in Northfield, Vermont and as many people know winter comes early and often around there. That presents a few obstacles in regards to kinetic flooring under the artificial turf field. The snowfall is heavy and continuous, which means during the peak of winter Sabine field will be completely covered which prevents sports teams and other people from using it. This will lead to no new energy being created and most likely the previously stored energy to be used up. To offset the winter energy lull by way of kinetic tiles, the methodically placed solar panels will provide the energy boost needed to keep the self-sufficiency going. Now, let’s talk about how these solar panels are going to help keep our vision bright. Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packs of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Which, considering the distance is insanely fast. Every hour, enough photons impact our planet to generate enough solar energy to theoretically satisfy global energy needs for an entire year. That is a lot of untapped energy that can contribute to making society more eco-friendly and self-sufficient. To sum up the science behind this technology, a solar panel works by allowing photons, or particles of light, to knock electrons free from atoms, generating a flow of electricity. Solar panels, in fact, comprise of many, smaller units called photovoltaic cells. Photovoltaic simply means they convert sunlight into electricity. Many cells linked together make up a solar panel. First, sunlight hits a solar panel on the roof. The panels convert the energy to DC current, which flows to an inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC, which you can then use to power your home. It’s beautifully simple and clean, and it’s getting more efficient and affordable all the time. There are about 730 hours in each month, and the average price of a kWh of electricity is $0.10. The installed cost of solar panels is anywhere between $7-$9 per watt. A 5 kW system would cost around $25,000-$35,000. Many utility companies offer incentives, and some subsidize as much as 50% of system costs. Even though it may take some time for this investment to make our money back, it is still a step in the right direction. Solar panels will play an essential part in making our dream a reality here at Norwich University.
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