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Zakary Tomlin
Dante Tornello
Alaukika Vaishnav
Jazmyne White
Makayla Wood
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
Our Planet
USFSPs Involvement
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12
14
Interviews
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Conclusion
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Glossary of Terms
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
suns energy and direct it to places where it
INTRODUCTION
This report will address some issues involving the planets environmental battle and what
we as students have researched on the topic. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg has
made a huge commitment to try and relieve some stress from our planet by collaborating with
certain companies and building up-to-date structures as a better solution to their cause. This
report will inform the reader on how the University has come so far into advancing sustainable
environment alternatives for the campus. This report will include the universitys own research
history as well as interviews from important peoples who have contributed to the solar project.
The annotated bibliography will further explain what research went into this report and why it is
relevant to the Universitys cause. The University would like to try and get more of the
community involved in greener efforts. Companies like Duke Energy have made their
commitment to help the University by giving them a grant for solar panel research in 2014. By
sifting through news articles and informative Intel on solar energy, this report will aim to inspire
the desire to improve the Universitys efforts and spread the word on what great research has
been done by professors and students alike to make a vital change. This report hopes to invoke
the same pride the University of South Florida St. Petersburg has to make a change and follow
the footsteps that many people have taken for the green movement.
OUR PLANET
The planet Earth is home to literally all life forms created here, but as humans, we have
destructed a lot of the most essential elements needed to keep a healthy planet that is habitable
for most parts of Earth. Climate damage has been a debate for decades in society, whether it is a
real issue or not. Carbon dioxide emissions by electricity is the largest leading source for the
U.S. (EPA, see Fig. 1). Carbon dioxide being released more rapidly than it can naturally be used
up by the environment is causing heat-trapping effects that melt glaciers, cause trees and flowers
to bloom earlier and animal migration shifts to become unstable.
This is where solar energy really helps in terms of using electricity as the main source for
homes and large-scale fuels. There are at least seven different types of pollution that affect our
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everyday living habitats. Pollution is something the public hears regularly about because it is so
rampant in our society. Pollution is the contamination of our natural surroundings that negatively
affects and disturbs our ecosystem (CEF). Currently our planet mainly uses finite sources of
energy because developing the technology for sustainable green movements is still very young.
Unfortunately we still rely on the burning of fuel as our main sources of industrial activities such
as driving or even cooking. By harvesting energy used from solar power, many homes can cut
the costs of water and conserve it by reducing the water used in electricity production.
The way humans go about their daily lives has greatly impacted the earths decline. Soil,
air, water and thermal pollution has set earth back by heating up the atmosphere (EPA). Solar
energy development is used to collect clean and pure resources from the sun alone. This
advanced technology is beneficial to the earth because it lessens the dependence on fossil fuels
and reduces many greenhouse gas emitters.
(Pure Energy).
Fig 2. "U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report: 1990-2013." United States Environmental Protection
Agency. N.p., 2014. Web. 16 June 2015.
USFSPS INVOLVEMENT
Solar energy is environmentally friendly renewable source of energy. Unlike fossil fuels,
harnessing solar energy doesn't result in harmful CO2 emissions. Our sun is virtually unlimited
source of energy that could supply with ease our current as well as the future energy demand
with the correct technology, for instance covering just 4% of the world's desert area with
photovoltaic could supply all of the world's electricity. Use of solar energy can reduce the use of
fossil fuels for the production of electricity. It consequently reduces the amount of fossil fuels
used and the production of greenhouse gases, which cause global warming, melting of glaciers,
rise in sea level and disappearance of many habitable small islands around the globe. Solar
panels have certain chemicals in them that change light energy into electrical energy. The
resulting electrical energy can be used for many things, including charging batteries which can
store electrical energy for later use in another place. Living in the sunshine state of Florida you
would think that solar panels would come in handy since the sun is constantly shining bright
throughout the day. The University Of South Florida St. Petersburg is very big on going green
and sustainability within the campus community making it suitable for the students as well as the
faculty. With measures in improving our energy efficiency, Duke Energy has funded USFSP
with a 1 million dollar fund to provide it with a solar array which is placed on top of the parking
garage. It is destined to lower energy usage in the garage between the avenues of fifth and sixth
avenue south says Josh Boatwright of The St. Petersburg Tribune. It may not seem like much
but this will make a magnificent difference on the campus in saving energy, including electricity
funds for the school. There are 318 solar panels that store up to 200 kilowatts of energy in a
battery on the ground floor of the garage. USFSP solar panel instillation is one of the largest
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instillations of Duke Energy. With hopes to enrich our efforts to research and cultivate substitute
energy solutions that will be value to the consumers and the environment. Installing these solar
panels has also opened doors to additional curriculum within the university in the Arts &
Sciences, Business, and Education educating students on sustainability and other practices for
going green. USFSPs decision to take part in the research project with solar panels is a huge
stand out to the community and campus environment to ensure how important it is to save energy
and this shows how serious USFSP is as a university about saving energy. Solar energy that is
not recycled by the garage for lights, elevators and electric-vehicle charging stations is stored in
battery systems or put onto the electric grid for instantaneous use. High-resolution statistics is
being composed on the PV connection and on the energy storage system which is exposed on an
online dashboard and numerous kiosks on campus. The innovative larger energy storage system
functions in conjunction with two minor existing USF energy storage systems. Thus, this creates
a prospect to build upon prevailing battery technology while evolving clean energy solutions.
Being that USFSP is one of few universities to have solar panels installed, this is something that
can set the bar for others to also follow along for making the communities more environmental
friendly. Think about how much we are saving, along with several other projects the universities
are working on to make campus life efficient and less expensive.
for your solar system up front or lease it, corporate utility costs will significantly decline to the
point where the savings can eventually pay for the solar system (cleanenergyexperts.com).
Although the upfront cost may be expensive, the long term sustainability pays back with having
much lower costs comparative to paying for standard electric energy, often obtained by coal.
This is an interesting point that reinforces the statement that the long term impact of solar energy
is valid.
Following this information, the benefits are clear. Solar energy is a widely available form
of energy, which is and will be crucial for affordable and safe energy consumption. If we were to
switch to solar energy as a worldwide society, global climate change would be slowed down
because of the use of sustainable resources. Even on a cloudy day, the panels can still collect
energy. And during the night, the panels that collected energy that day will have stored it for
ones home for later use. Thus, even during times of no sunlight, the panels are never useless.
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steps
the
university is taking, is
using one of Floridas most abundant and natural gift, sunshine, and turning it into power. Solar
energy has been projected to be the future of alternative energy, not only because its a renewable
resource but also because solar energy doesnt pollute our precious Earth. USFSP has started an
amazing project and partnership with Duke Energy in debuting a 100 kilowatt solar panel system
on top of the 5th Ave South parking garage. The power that is generated through these panels will
be used to support charging stations for electric cars in the local area. Another effort that could be
implemented would be to increase the installation of additional panels on other campus buildings
to increase the amount of power that could be used internally or in conjunction with other charging
stations with a variety of purpose. As the amount of power generated increases, it may be possible
to coordinate external demand and re-sell any excess capacity back to the grid via Duke Energy
and allow for that profit to go towards purchasing more solar panels. Another possibility is as fuel
cells become a more prevalent source of power, solar energy will be used in an electrolysis process.
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What happens during the electrolysis process is it separates the hydrogen and oxygen in water so
the hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for transportation and in building use, which both could
greatly benefit USFSP. Additionally, our University could consider offering informational services
to other regional governments and private organizations that may be interested in the opportunities
that solar power may offer. USFSP is a great example of an environmentally conscious facility
and can really help to lead by example for future projects in and around the community.
With the recent installation of the solar panels, USFSP is continuing down the path of not
only creating a sustainable campus but also a sustainable city. In a recent interview, when the solar
panels were debuted, Representative Dwight Dudley of St. Petersburg said this new project at
USFSP Shows a lot of potential for harnessing the sun here (Boatwright). Our Representative is
right on the dot. With Florida being known as the Sun Shine State, itd be silly not to take advantage
of it. A possibility going forward for the University could be adding additional solar panels to
power several indoor charging stations around the campus. Being in the twenty first century where
it seems like everyone has some type of device glued to them at all times and they all inevitably
end up running out of power at some point during the day, charging up is a must. With this being
the case, people will always need to charge up their devise, at least one, once a day, especially
college students. Receiving money to have more solar panels installed on USFSPs campus and
having the generated power feed directly to designated stations all over campus with the purpose
of charging up students devices could become beneficial all around. By adding more solar panels
to USFSP, the less damage done to the environment, the greener the campus becomes and also
students become exposed to a real outcome of what energy harvested from the sun can do. Every
day technology advances and new ideas are born, with solar power such a viable option, the ideas
are bound to become endless only with time.
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OUR FUTURE
In 2018, Duke Energy plans to continue their collaboration with USFSP to add 30 more
megawatts on the power grid. Currently, five more are to be added this year.
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INTERVIEWS
Some interviews with people who personally were involved with the University of South
Florida St. Petersburg production of the solar panels.
INTERVIEW WITH JENNIFER WINTER (EX-SUSTAINABILITY COORD INATOR AT USFSP)
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INTERVIEW WITH JOE PIETRZAK (THE PROGRAM MANAGER AND DUKES SENIOR
PLANNING ANALYST)
Yes, it has already set the standards, it is the 5th year for the
SunSense program. We have worked with many universities before this like: UF, UCF,
St. Petersburg College but now with USFSP we have expanded the project. It is more
comprehensive at USFSP with 100kw solar array, 200kw battery and 2 electrical vehicle
chargers. The goal is to research so the batteries can store more solar power, so when the
clouds come or at night how we can increase the batteries to store more power in them.
Since the $1,000,000 partnership started officially as of May 20 (2015), what other initiatives
are in the works with USFSP to bring more of a focus on alternative energy?
The program started on the 20th of May is now fully installed and will be in research for
about 2 years to see the results. USFSP has also been looking to expand their research
and getting other grants as well.
Do you see solar energy as a great investment for the future, especially for USFSP, and if so,
why?
Absolutely, there has been reduction in the costs of solar energy in the last 5 years and it
definitely bears some more research as a viable resource as the costs go down.
How are homes to use this energy and are they using it?
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They are already using it, now it just a matter of it being economically viable. The energy
is to be used just like electricity to run homes appliances etc. Duke just announced a few
months ago to expand the solar program to 500mw of solar in next 10 years in Florida.
We also provide customer incentives to both residential and commercial customers to
reduce the upfront costs of solar.
How is USFSP using the solar energy that is installed?
USFSP is using the energy to offset the usage at the garage, instead of using the grid. The
goal is to research for 2 years and to see the results.
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CONCLUSION
The University of South Florida St.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS 3
Carbon
Footprint:
Electrolysis
process:
Emissions
Environmental
Sustainability:
Fossil Fuels:
Global
Warming:
Greenhouse
Gases:
Photovoltaic
system:
Recycle:
Renewable
Resource:
Any natural resource that can replenish itself naturally over time, as
wood or solar energy.
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ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Carbon Dioxide Emissions. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 16 June 2015.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/gases/co2.html.
Greenhouse Gases are a serious factor when going green, and thats why weve found this
source to be very helpful while writing our White Paper about solar energy. This website not only
provides an overview of greenhouse gases, but also goes in-depth about Carbon Dioxide and its
effects it has on us and the world. This kind of information will be beneficial to us while writing
because we can use is as a reason to go green, along with having it as a resource to backup other
information. The article goes into discussion main sources of CO2 emissions in the U.S, which
will also help us while writing about solar energy.
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"Duke Energy, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Unveil Solar Battery Project." Duke
Energy, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Unveil Solar Battery Project. TD World
Magazine,
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May
2015.
Web.
16
June
2015.
<
http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2014/09/18/duke-energy-to-invest-1-million-in-usfspresearch-project/>
TD World focuses this article on the recent unveiling of the solar partnership between Duke
Energy and USFSP. The partnership includes a 100-kilowatt solar installation, which powers the
universitys parking garage system. The site also discusses the storage of excess energy collected
by the solar panel, being a battery that will store that energy for later use. TD World also states
that this project was enabled by a $1 million grant from Duke Energy.
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Blais, Jessica. USFSP News Center, Duke Energy to Invest $1 Million in USFSP Research
Project. University of South Florida St. Petersburg. N. p., 18 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 June
2015.<http://www.usfsp.edu/blog/2014/09/18/duke-energy-to-invest-1-million-in-usfspresearch-proect/>.
This article here is one of the first debuting USFSP receiving the grant from Duke Energy
to start the solar energy project. Within this article there is a lot of great information about the
basis of the project. There is a great explanation of the setup of the solar panels along with the
whole process from start to finish. We believe this information will be beneficial to us while
writing our paper because it will provide us with good background information to back up our
claims while writing.
Duke Energy, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Unveil Solar Battery Project May 20,
2015. Duke Energy, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Unveil Solar
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BatteryProject.N.p.20May2015.Web.16June2015.<http://www.dukeenergy.com/news/releases/2015052001.asp>.
This article via Duke Energy discusses the unavailing of the solar project at USFSP and
Duke Energy being a partner in it. This article is a wealth of information because they dont only
provide information regarding the whole process and how it works, but also its benefits and
logistics. This article will be most helpful to is when writing our introduction I believe, because of
the great detail about the project given here. We also might take advantage of the images they
posted as part of our design of our White Paper.
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WORKS CITED
"40 Facts About Solar Energy - Conserve Energy Future."ConserveEnergyFuture. N.p., 13 Dec.
2013. Web. 16 June 2015.
Ballogg, Ryan. "USFSP may host citys largest solar panel array." The Crow's Nest. N.p., 19
Feb. 2014. Web. 17 June 2015.
"Benefits of Commercial Solar Power." Clean Energy Experts. Clean Energy Experts. Web. 17
June 2015.
Boatwright, Josh. "Duke Energy unveils solar power project at USF St. Pete." The St. Petersburg
Tribune. Ed. Jeff Scullin. The Tampa Tribune, 20 May 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 16 June 2015.
"Duke Energy, University of South Florida St. Petersburg Unveil Solar Battery Project." TD
World. TD World Magazine, 21 May 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.
"Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies." Union of Concerned Scientists.
Union of Concerned Scientists. Web. 17 June 2015.
"Power System." Northwestern University. Qualitative Reasoning Group, n.d. Web. 17 June
2015.
"Solar Cell Timeline." The Solar Company. N.p., 27 Feb. 2012. Web. 17 June 2015.
"Solar power stations come to USF St. Petersburg." Bay News 9. Bright House, 7 Feb. 2013.
Web. 17 June 2015.
"USFSP solar-powered garage turned on, largest in Florida." The Oracle. Ed. Christopher
Collier. USFSP, 28 May 2015. Web. 17 June 2015.
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