Installed at Metzgar Athletic Fields in May 2011, this wind turbine generates power when wind blows against the vertical airfoils, causing them to spin. This power is then converted to AC electricity and is immediately available to provide energy. The stronger the wind, the more power it will generate.
A vegetated roof has been installed on a portion of Acopian Engineering Center. A green roof not only looks great, but also has many environmental advantages. The roof prolongs the life of the roof system, slows the rate of storm water runoff, removes impurities in the storm water runoff, reduces the heat island effect (localized raised temperatures), and insulates the space below the roof.
At the 2009 Sustainable Energy Conference held on July 27–August 1, the Sustainable Energy Fund gave Lafayette College a $15,000 grant to fund the construction and installation of the College’s second solar array, a 3-kilowatt panel installed at Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex. The solar array is being used to power equipment for the College’s composting and community gardens project at Metzgar.
An array of photovoltaic solar panels was installed on the roof of the Acopian Engineering Center. Data from these panels is collected and analyzed by Lafayette College students as part on an Electrical Engineering Department course.
Keefe Hall: Lighting systems in general assembly areas were retrofitted with occupancy controls to take advantage of occupancy diversity in building usage.
Kirby Sports Center Atrium: Existing Siemens control system was used.
Keefe Hall: Water closets were retrofitted with dual-flush capability in order to use water commensurate with type of use/need. Conventional urinals were replaced with waterless type.
Kirby Sports Center Pool: The pump was retrofitted with a variable frequency drive enabling the pump to operate at varying energy consumption levels rather than at constant maximum levels.
Campus-wide: Operational changes were made to cooling towers’ “blow-down” systems have reduced the amount of make-up water required (by approximately 15 percent) to keep systems running.
Farinon Center: Three large motors were retrofitted with variable frequency drives which enable them to operate at varying energy consumption levels, rather than at maximum levels all the time.
Scott Hall: Target LEED Silver used local materials, high performance windows, recycled materials, low-flow plumbing fixtures, occupancy sensors and recycled construction water.
Snyder Street Parking Lot: Utilized LEED-design lighting from Spring City. This reduces energy consumption by approximately 50 percent (74W LED lighting versus campus standard 150W HPS).