Green Campus Inc.

Facts About Current Energy Usage 87 % of the electricity produced in the US is from non-renewable sources 1. Only 0.3% of the electricity produced is from solar panels 1. With increasing consumption rates, we may run out of oil in as little as 30 years. 1 – According to the Energy Information Administration

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. content/uploads/2007/08/solar-panel-1.jpg

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

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 tent/sitebuilderpictures/oregon.gif _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 x.jpg

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/ 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