| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.92 |
| Liaison | Keisha Payson |
| Submission Date | Feb. 25, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Bowdoin College
IN-1: Innovation 1
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 1.00 |
Keisha
Payson Sustainability Director Facilities Mgmt |
Title or keywords related to the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome:
A brief description of the innovative policy, practice, program, or outcome :
In 2014, Bowdoin College and SolarCity installed a 1.2MW solar energy system that spans four rooftops and three acres of ground-mounted panels on College-owned property at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station. The 1.2 megawatt complex includes approximately 4,420 solar panels at the four major installations: the rooftop systems on Farley Field House, Sidney J. Watson Arena and Greason Pool, a 12-kW system on the new residence hall at 52 Harpswell Road, and a 654-kW ground-mount installation on the three acres owned by the college at the former Navy base. SolarCity owns the installations which they designed, constructed, and maintain; and Bowdoin purchases all the power produced by the system at a fixed rate. More than six times the size of the next largest existing solar installation in Maine at the time of construction, this system provides approximately 8 percent of the College’s electricity.
The installation is one of several efforts to support renewable energy production on campus. It also provides meaningful educational opportunities for students and faculty focused on alternative energy. In addition to providing faculty members access to raw production and usage data for their coursework, the College has provided numerous educational tours of the solar systems and has made live electricity production meters for each location publicly available on Bowdoin’s sustainability website.
A brief description of any positive measurable outcomes associated with the innovation (if not reported above):
A letter of affirmation from an individual with relevant expertise:
Which of the following STARS subcategories does the innovation most closely relate to? (Select all that apply up to a maximum of 5):
| Yes or No | |
| Curriculum | Yes |
| Research | --- |
| Campus Engagement | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Air & Climate | --- |
| Buildings | --- |
| Dining Services | --- |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | --- |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | --- |
| Waste | --- |
| Water | --- |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | --- |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
Other topic(s) that the innovation relates to that are not listed above:
The website URL where information about the innovation is available :
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.