DENTON (UNT), Texas – The University of North Texas will host a reception on Friday (Sept. 2) to celebrate the installation of a wind turbine and solar panels at UNT’s Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building: the final project in a Texas-wide, State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) funded initiative intended to help schools save energy while also educating students about energy conservation.

The new equipment at UNT will provide energy for the greenhouse located on the west side of the EESAT building. This project was the final installation of a three-year program led by Dr. Ruthanne “Rudi” Thompson, an assistant professor of biology at UNT, and funded by a $500,000 grant from SECO. The initiative, known as SMART Schools, began in 2009 as a way to encourage energy conservation in Texas schools.

Thompson received more than two dozen proposals from schools interested in financial support for sustainable or energy-efficient facility upgrades. After reviewing the applications, Thompson and her team identified nine projects for funding, including the UNT project:

·       A.W. Brown-Fellowship Leadership Academy in Dallas received a 1.2 kw vertical wind turbine, 6-panel solar array and monitoring equipment.

·       Cherokee ISD in San Saba County received energy-efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs, LED exit signs, programmable thermostats and occupancy sensors.

·       Universal Academy Coppell received roof-mounted solar panels and monitoring equipment.

·       Universal Academy Irving received a 1.2 kw vertical wind turbine, 6-solar panel array and monitoring equipment.

·       Hallsburg ISD in Waco received energy-efficient lighting fixtures and energy-efficient stadium lighting.

·       Lometa ISD in Lampasas County received energy-efficient lighting and energy-efficient HVAC units for classrooms.

·       Humble ISD in Harris County received energy efficient-lighting for two middle schools and occupancy sensors.

·       Amarillo ISD received funding for a district-wide energy manager.

All of the equipment funded by the SECO Smart Schools grant was installed during the 2010-11 academic year, and Thompson expects the new equipment to not only save the schools money, but also provide them with concrete hands-on examples of renewable energy sources, a valuable resource for the classroom.

“To embrace alternative sources of energy we must first understand them. This project brings alternative energy, specifically wind turbines and solar panels, to the schools – to the students – so that they may study them,” said Thompson. “The data from these sources will be monitored, archived and accessible via the UNT TEO website (www.teo.unt.edu). In this way, kids of all ages can determine for themselves the viability of two of the most common sources of alternative, renewable energy.”

Friday’s event will recognize the completion of the installation phase of the project. The event will be held in the parking lot of the EESAT building at 4:30 p.m., and will include brief comments from Sam Atkinson, director of UNT’s Institute of Applied Science, among others. Thompson and her team will continue to offer support for the schools involved with the project.