Alternative Energy or Green Energy
Georgia Tech has signed the President's Climate Commitment. We have undertaken our greenhouse gas inventory. The first report due to the ACUPCC was submitted for publication prior to the due date of September 15,2007.
Energy Research at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech is a leader in research energy. To see what our world class researchers are working on in the area of energy research, please click here.
The Georgia Institute of Technology is part of a new research team, led by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), that has won a bid from the Department of Energy for a $125 million bioenergy research center that will seek new ways to produce biofuels.
Solar Energy
Questions about Solar?
Read answers about solar from Georgia Tech experts
Solar Power: Georgia Tech installed the largest rooftop photovoltaic system connected to a utility grid in the world in July 1996, atop the building on GIT’s campus which would house the 1996 Olympics swim events.
Between July 1996 and November 2006, the solar panel system produced 3259 megawatt hours of energy, enough to power 326 homes in Georgia for one year.
It supplements the Aquatic Center's main electrical system and serves as a research model. Solar hot water is also part of the Aquatic Center implementation.
To read about the system and the building, see solar article,and an update on it or click here for performance data.
AASHE still lists Georgia Tech as having the 23th largest solar implementation on a US campus.(September 2009)
Solar Cells Cumulative AC energy production (as of November1,2006): 3258.6 MWh
DECADE PERFORMANCE OF A ROOF-MOUNTED PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY
Second Solar PV Array on Campus
The second one, called an AC array, is rated at 4.3 kW (much smaller than the Aquatic Center rooftop array [342 kW]) and is installed top of a canopy covering the sidewalk leading up to the Calloway Student Athletic Complex (SAC). More Info.
Solar Thermal System on Campus
In addition to the two solar pv systems at the SAC (now the Campus Recreation Center), we have a solar thermal system. The shiny black mesh in the upper right is part of the solar thermal collector field. This system was built by Heliocol, Inc., and is used to heat the water for the pool. The water temperature had to be kept at precisely 82 F for Olympic competition, and it was the job of the solar thermal system to maintain this temperature. In its post-Olympic configuration, the targeted pool water temperature is 78 F.
System Description and benefits
Geothermal
Georgia Tech was also an early adapter of geothermal techniques for cooling, heating, and heating hot water. Ground source heat pumps: DOE link Geothermal uses less energy than conventional HVAC systems & reduce GHG emissions. It can be more efficient than conventional heating systems - up to 44% more efficient than air source heat pumps & 72% more efficient than electrical resistance heating. Important today, it can lower energy costs by 20 – 50% while reducing green house gases up to 44% . They typically have lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts and because equipment is not exposed to weather. They can be more attractive since they have no cooling towers or HVAC equipment on roofs, and they are quieter. Georgia Tech used geothermal for heating, cooling, and heating hot water.
Solar Decathlon House
The 2007 Solar Decathlon House entry from Georgia Tech, which is is no longer on campus, has a 6.5 kw solar system. A portion of the south wall contains 12 PV panels providing an additional 2.0 KW of electricity to help power the house and an electrical vehicle.
We are very proud of our students and thier supporters. Read more about them.
Environmentally Friendly Cars
Georgia Tech to Compete in EcoCar Challenge
Our team is doing very well in the EcoCar Challenge. More Info.
Solar Jackets Develop Solar Assisted Electric Vehicle
Students Develop A Solar-Electric Hybrid Car
The Georgia Tech Solar Jackets, a student organization, has successfully converted a 2001 Audi TT from a gas-powered sports car to a solar-assisted electric vehicle (SAEV) - the first of its kind. More Info.
Biodiesel
Georgia Tech converts its used cooking oil into biodiesel. This was a pilot in 2007 and is in operations today. All the dining halls and most of the food retailers on campus are donating thier used cooking oil. The primary users of this biofuel is landscaping.
Campus Vehicles use Alternative Fuels
The approximately 500 vehicles on campus for campus operations are 27% alternative fuel.
Tech Trolley
Tech's campus has the largest percent of students living on campus (9700 students, 54% of our student population). Freshmen are not allowed to have cars on campus. Our 400 acre campus is a pedestrian campus in downtown Atlanta, a large international city. The natural gas fueled Tech Trolleys and our Stinger buses provide over 2,400,000 rides a year to students, faculty, staff and visitors around campus. The Trolley connects to Atlanta's public transit system, MARTA and other regional transportatin systems.
All forms of Alternative Transportation are used on and promoted around campus. Our Alternative Transportation program has won awards from for being pedestrian friendly from PEDS and as the Best Places for Commuters from the US EPA which indicates over 14% of our commuters use alternative transportation to come to campus.
The Fifth Fuel: Energy Efficiency
Marilyn A. Brown, Professor in the School of Public Policy is now a Nobel Laureate! Marilyn was part of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 was awarded jointly to Al Gore and the IPCC. The Fifth Fuel: Energy Efficiency has been the largest, US Energy Resource. It is the fastest, cheapest, cleanest energy resource, and 10-33% reduction in electricity use are achieveable based upon timeframe. (See slides 9-18 of the linked presentation.)
Wind Power
Southern Company said today that a thorough two-year study, conducted with the Georgia Institute of Technology, has identified conditions potentially favorable for wind power generation off the coast of Georgia, …
Biofuel from Pine
Biofuel from pine has been a research program at Georgia Tech. It is has been actively promoted in the SE.
Companies and Georgia Research Alliance Support Biofuel Research at Georgia Tech
Feasibility for Southern Pine as Feedstock for Renewable Fuel Industry:
% Renewable Energy vs Non-renewable
Georgia Tech’s energy to run campus operations is over 99% non-renewable energy.
|
|
KwH/Year 2006 |
Percent |
Renewable |
CRC Solar |
325,800 |
0.0932 |
Renewable* |
Geothermal 811 Marietta |
325,000 |
0.0900 |
Non-Renewable |
Non Renewable |
349,500,000 |
99.8168 |
Georgia Tech's Sustainability Efforts are a long term, sustainable strategy
