Energy is central to global sustainability and this Earth Day we highlight Waterloo's efforts on campus.
Energy is central to global sustainability and this Earth Day we highlight Waterloo's efforts on campus.
Earth Day is recognized annually on April 22. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, invites everyone to unite behind renewable energy, to triple clean electricity by 2030. As people around the world celebrate the planet today and recommit to climate action, we pause to reflect on the ways the University of Waterloo is making advancements to improve energy literacy and conservation on campus.
Since its construction, solar panels have been a key feature of Environment 3 (EV3). When they were installed a decade ago, they produced 67,000 kW-hours per year, roughly the amount to power seven homes. It was one of several features that led to EV3 being recognized as the first LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certified building on an Ontario campus.
With support from a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant, additional solar panels and brand-new measurement equipment were installed this past year. It was part of a revitalization project that was overseen by Dr. Paul Parker and Dr. Ian Rowlands in the Faculty of Environment, and Dr. Costa Kapsis in the Faculty of Engineering. Now, this work is bringing fresh research opportunities to benefit both campus and community.
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Photo Credit: andreas160578 via Pixabay
