Planet OHIO - Alternative Energy

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a-maize-ing heat furnace
Corn and Wood Pellet Furnace Solar Thermal Hot Water System

chubb hall solar
Solar Arrays Solar Oven

oil
Waste Vegetable Oil

CE3
Consortium for Energy, Economics and the Environment

Corn and Wood Pellet Furnace

The corn and wood pellet furnace in the basement of the OHIO Ecohouse keeps the residents warm through the winter months. The furnace burns corn, which is a renewable resource, or wood pellets, which are made from waste wood, or a combination of corn and wood pellets to make heat. The Ecohouse's thermostat electronically controls the fuel feed system and blower to provide a constant temperature. The furnace will remain lit as long as the bin contains corn, and will shut down automatically if the fuel supply is depleted.

Solar Arrays

There are currently 4 solar arrays at Ohio Univesity. Third Sun Solar and Wind Power, Ltd. installed the first three solar arrays. The first is on the roof of the Innovation Center on West State Street. It is a 4 kilowatt system* that uses thirty-two 128-watt PV laminates. The laminate is a unique type of solar panel because it comes in a roll similar to carpet and is then rolled out onto a roof and plugged in.

The second solar array is a 2.4 kilowatt PV system mounted on the side of the West Green District Chilled Water Plant. The panel was donated by American Electric Power and is composed of forty-eight 50-watt PV panels.

The lighting, computers, and printers in one of the offices of admissions in Chubb Hall are also powered by a solar system. The 330-watt system sits on the roof of Chubb Hall and features six 55-watt panels.

The final array was installed by Dovetail Solar & Wind, Inc. at the OHIO Ecohouse in August 2005. It is a 2.4 killowatt array and on average powers about half of the Ecohouse’s electricity each month depending on the changing weather conditions.

* In Ohio, it is expected that about 1,000 kilowatt hours of power will be generated each year for each kilowatt of installed array.

Solar Oven

On a hot, sunny day this oven can heat up to temperatures between 360 and 400 degrees farenheit. Bake lasagna, bread, or cookies for your residence hall soley with the power of the sun! Contact Sonia Marcus at marcuss@ohio.edu if you'd like to use the oven for an educational program.

Solar Thermal Hot Water System

A solar thermal hot water system was installed at the OHIO Ecohouse in 2005. The solar thermal heating unit contains two separate flat plate thermal collectors in a closed circulation loop and heater exchange system. Propylene glycol flows through small copper tubes in the panels, which is then heated by the sun. The glycol is then piped through a hot water holding tank, which preheats the domestic hot water for the Ecohouse residents. By installing a solar water heating system, a typical household can meet 50 to 100 percent of its hot water needs, reducing demand for fossil fuels and limiting production of the heat-trapping gases that cause global warming. The solar thermal heating system at the Ecohouse was provided and installed by Third Sun Solar & Wind Power.

Waste Vegetable Oil

All of Ohio University's waste vegetable oil from the dining halls is currently being picked up and processed and turned into biodiesel for use in farm vehicles. In addition to supporting the surrounding farm communities, the university saves money that would have been spent on disposal costs.

Consortium for Energy, Economics and the Environment

The Consortium for Energy, Economics and the Environment (CE3) was formed at Ohio University in 2005 to facilitate innovative applied research related to increasing Ohio’s investment in energy, the environment and our economic future. Visit their website for information about alternative fuel research.