Green Campus Inc.

Facts About Current Energy Usage• 87 % of the electricity produced in the US is from non-renewable sources1.• Only 0.3% of the electricity produced is from solar panels1.• With increasing consumption rates, we may run out of oil in as little as 30

years.

1 – According to the Energy Information Administration

Hydropower9.4%

Wind Power1.8%

Biomass1.3%

Geothermal0.4%

Solar Power0.3%

Non Renewables86.6%

Electricity Sources by Percentage

What are We About?

• GCI is a non-profit organization• GCI intends to convince multiple colleges to purchase

thousands of solar panels to power their buildings.

• These purchases will help support solar research and solar energy.

• Once enough colleges have joined the organization, a bulk order of solar panels will be placed, and a bulk order discount will lower costs.

• Federal and State Government rebates will lower the cost further.

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Designing the Project

• Why solar?– Renewable and Clean– The main drawback is cost– Solar research is increasing electricity output

• GCI can make installing panels cost efficient

Designing the Project

• Why College Campuses?– Lots of buildings (locations for panels)– High energy use (potential to save money)– Colleges want to go green

Designing the Project

• We will begin by contacting colleges in Oregon• Why Oregon? – Regional Rebates (highest in the nation)– Green Legislation– Solar Energy Abundance– History of alternative energy support

Solar Energy Potential In Oregon

http://www.solarpowerrocks.com/oregon

Logistics

• Contact multiple colleges in Oregon– Ask on-campus green organization to advertise

our plan – If the idea catches on, contact Board of Directors (or whoever might be

responsible for making this decision on any given campus

– Prove to the board that this project is profitable

http://www.sodakrunning.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/oregon.gif http://www.listphile.com/NCAA_School_Mascots/

Oregon_State_University/image/oregon-state.jpg

Payment and Costs

• In addition to federal rebates, Oregon offers a rebate of 50% of the total cost of the panels.

• The panels will pay back their cost in electricity production.– Pepsi installed panels on its manufacturing plants– Many Chipotle restaurants installed panels

• Power purchasing agreements

Power Purchasing Agreements

• Company Installs Panels for small upfront cost• College than pays a fixed rate for Energy• After several years (10-20) the college then

owns the panels• Particularly good for colleges on strict budget• No market fluctuations

Logistics Continued…

• Once we have convinced enough colleges that this project is worth signing on to…

• Contact manufacturers to negotiate price• Statistics show that large purchases can save up

to 20%2

• This discount is based on 50 homes installing panels.

• We assume we can get the equivalent in colleges

2 – According to the company Sun Run

Logistics Continued…

• Hire contractors to install the solar panels• Expand area of influence and continue to

implement plan

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Funding GCI

• Startup costs will be very minimal• Take a small profit on panels to cover upkeep

• Provides opportunities to learn business skills from companies

• Allows for greater mobility and success, followed by higher organizational and institutional sustainability. – School building management administration– Teachers– Student advocacy groups– Technical/email department– Solar panel manufacturers– Installation contractors.

Social Alliances

• Appealing to a younger audience– YouTube videos– Facebook groups– Online ads

• Ads on buses or taxis• Word of mouth• Donations to further solar research– This is a global issue, politics shouldn’t matter

Related Trends

• Poor insulation– Some buildings are well insulated and

still wasting energy• Moral sacrifices

– Changing people’s mindset and cooperation

• Location– Small area of solar availability and

efficiency• Sustainable funding• Maintaining interest with the public

and other schools• Uncooperative companies and schools

Possible Project Barriers

• If successful, it will be living proof that solar panels are: – An efficient and comparatively inexpensive

solution to combat global warming– Move the world towards an oil-free sustainable

energy source–Money and donations will go to sustainable energy

research

Project Effectiveness

Stakeholders

• Federal and State Governments• Oil Companies• Solar panel manufacturers and installers• Board of Directors at each college• Students at each college• Other Alternative Energy Companies

Conclusions

• Solar panels can be cost efficient, and GCI provides a method to increase this efficiency

• Installing solar panels now can help reduce fossil fuel dependence

• Our project can be a model for other areas to do the same