Like Superman, American University Will Get Its Energy from the Sun

WASHINGTON, DC (April 15, 2011)With a mandate for renewable energy in the District of Columbia in place, and a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2020, American University is installing one of the largest solar electricity systems in Washington, D.C. and the largest urban solar hot water system on the east coast.The 505 kilowatt system will be installed by Standard Solar Inc. of Rockville, Md. and owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Services Inc. Combined, AU will have more than 532 kilowatts of solar PV producing about 637 megawatt hours of electricity each year.More than 2,150 solar photovoltaic panels will be installed by July on six American University buildings resulting in the largest solar power system in the District of Columbia.

In addition, 174 solar thermal energy panels will be installed on four campus buildings by July, providing hot showers to more than 2,000 students living on campus and hot water to the university’s largest dining hall.

Combined these 2,300 solar panels create the largest use of solar technology in the Washington Metro area and showcase how AU is finding innovative ways to fight climate change.

“Not only is solar power the right thing to do, it will also reduce the university’s energy costs the day we flip the switches on the new systems, proving that solar can be clean and green,” says Chris O’Brien, director of sustainability at American University. “We are also working to explore other ways to develop even larger scale renewable energy sources in the Washington region, so stay tuned.”