Energy & Climate Change
Energy Conservation
Tips for Energy Conservation on campus
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Turn off lights to rooms when not in use.
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Shut down your computer and other equipment at the end of the day and when you will be gone for extended periods.
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Turn off your computer’s screen saver and instead, turn off the screen when you leave the office for meetings, errands, etc.
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Turn off commonly used office equipment (printers, copiers, coffee makers) at the end of the day.
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Unplug equipment that is not used regularly.
Renewable Energy
Solar Array | State College of Florida Venice Campus
Array Overview
The State College of Florida hired Brilliant Harvest in early October of 2012 to construct an 11.76 kW ballasted ground mount solar photovoltaic array at their Venice Florida Campus. According to the Colllege, “The system is planned to be a valuable teaching aid for students in the Energy Management program at the State College of Florida with the inclusion of an Internet based monitoring system for students and faculty to observe and monitor output.”
The project faced two significant obstacles to successful completion. First, the project needed to be completed by November 1, 2012 to meet College grant requirements, leaving only 21 days from contract signature to permit and complete the project. Second, because of potential future building plans, the installed system was required to be ground mounted but moveable if needed. Working with its suppliers and the College, Brilliant Harvest identified a ballasted ground mount array design that would comply with local wind code requirements, and utilize easily remove-able ground penetrating equipment for ease of portability.
Brilliant Harvest completed the project on time and on budget, and helped secure an FPL solar rebate for the project, dramatically reducing the initial cost of the system to State College of Florida.
System Details
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Forty nine (seven rows of even panels each) SolarWorld SW 240 polycrystalline solar panels
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Forty nine Enphase M215 microinverters with integrated web monitoring
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1Panel Claw “Panda Bear” Ballasted ground mount racking system