KCC Plans for Sustainable Future
by Myles Collier

In a workshop put on by the Kingsborough Student Leadership Institute entitled “Responsible Citizenship: What Does it Mean?” Vice President William Keller spoke of an idea to put solar panels on the roof of the Performing Arts Center.

According to Keller, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) would be a prime location for setting up a solar grid due to its southern facing roof and large, flat surface area, where accommodating a grid would be ideal to power the center.

sus·tain·a·ble, adj

1.Able to be maintained

2.Exploiting natural resources without destroying the ecological balance of a particular area

Though there are other locations throughout our campus that would also be conducive in supporting one of these grid systems (like the southern facing roof on the library) the vision demonstrated by our administrators in the development of a sustainable campus is met with the most praise. Solar panels vary in size and energy capacity.   One solar cell from General Electric can generate 873 kWh (kilowatt hours) per month, with a mere five hours of sunlight a day. This means that for as long as light hits the panel it constantly generates and produces power.

One of these solar panels weighs about twenty pounds.   This is important considering that in order to power the PAC it would take a few dozen of these panels. Renewable energy technologies is a rapidly growing industry with the realization of the necessity to reduce our impact on our environment. Both domestic and foreign competitors manufacture various renewable energy products such as General Electric, Mitsubishi, Sharp and British Petroleum solar. The cost of one of these grid systems, on average, is between $30,000 and   $70,000.

A wholesale solar company based out of California, wholesalesolar.com, specializes in designing custom solar grids and “intertied” systems that would combine wind as well as hydro turbines along with the solar grid for a truly dynamic renewable energy resource. The communication between departments will be crucial in order for this to be a successful endeavor.

Considering the money and politics involved this might end up being a long process.

Financially, this should not have to be the case since semester bills for Kingsborough's enrollment of approximately 30,000 kids annually guarantees Kingsborough will be pulling a hefty sum. Have you not ever wondered what those all those fees go toward? With the continuing degradation of the environment it is time for us to become sustainable.  

As mentioned in past issues, the “green” movement here on campus is at a crossroads, about to move from support to action. For the cost of a luxury vehicle, Kingsborough's PAC building will be transformed in a    continuing effort to make the campus a cleanly-shining jewel of Brooklyn.