“Business Currents,” a newsletter published by the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), features an article titled “Lane Community College embodies sustainability” in its current issue. The article explains show Lane has used its Greenpower grants form EWEB to support energy efficiency and other sustainability on campus.
Lane Community College Embodies Sustainability
Original article Link: http://www.eweb.org/bc/march2015/lcc
Since Lane Community College's founding 1964, the college has emerged over the past five decades as a leader in innovation in both its operations and its curriculum, including efforts to use energy wisely and sustainably. So when the Eugene Water & Electric Board offered a renewable energy program, it made good sense for the college to support the program.
"EWEB's Greenpower program aligns perfectly with the college's core values," said Anna Scott, Lane's energy analyst. "The college now pledges 12% of its energy use to EWEB Greenpower."
Greenpower grants support energy innovation
In addition to allocating a portion of its energy use to EWEB Greenpower, the college has received two Greenpower grants that funded energy innovations on Lane's main and downtown campuses.
The first grant was issued in 2009 for a solar station on Lane's main campus that offers charging for as many as 19 electric vehicles at once. The campus fleet, students, employees and community members use the station. The 36-kilowatt photovoltaic roof array covering the station feeds power to the main campus electric grid, and students were trained on solar electric installation as part of the project.
EWEB awarded the second Greenpower grant to Lane in 2011 for the college's 12-kilovolt photovoltaic roof array at the downtown campus. That system offsets the building's energy usage with renewable solar power, and serves as a functional renewable energy educational opportunity. Lane's Renewable Energy Technician students are able to monitor the energy production, compare the performance of the different types of panels and learn about maintenance of the system.
"These projects have improved Lane’s bottom line, furthered college goals, and most importantly, the projects have doubled as hands-on learning opportunities for students in the college's energy management and other sustainability programs," Scott said.
Through support of EWEB Greenpower, the college has earned points towards LEED Platinum and Gold certification for its downtown location. Lane's core value of sustainability underscores its commitment to practices such as efficient energy systems, pursuing LEED certification for new and remodeled buildings, green events, recycling, composting, use of eco-friendly cleaning supplies, supporting four sustainability related degree programs, and an organic learning garden.
More information about Lane's sustainability efforts is available on the college's website.
