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Governors State University Harnesses The Power Of The Sun

Since its founding in 1969, Governors State University in Illinois has been at the forefront of educational innovation. Established as an institution that would challenge the then existing academic establishment, Governors State was originally heralded as a "university without walls" that shunned the concept of students grades and traditional university "departments" in favor of a new educational model that strove to provide students with knowledge and competency without the competitive, pressurized environment pervasive upon traditional university campuses.

While some of the innovations the university attempted to usher in failed to stand the test of time, many have challenged traditional ideas of how universities should operate and many have made other universities and colleges rethink just how they should provide educational services to students preparing to undertake global challenges in a new, highly competitive world marketplace. That's why it didn't come as too much of a surprise when we at the Chief Engineer heard that Governors State University was in the process of installing the largest solar heating plant in the State of Illinois. And it's also why we at the Chief Engineer sent our reporters and photographers out to University Park Illinois, to bring this story to our readers.

Chuck DeBrizzio, the Chief Operating Engineer for Physical Plant Operations at the university, greeted us upon our arrival at Governors State. Chuck was gracious enough to act as our guide for a tour of the new solar construction and to explain to us just how this new plant will improve services to students and lower operating costs to Illinois taxpayers.

The new solar panels are being installed atop the physical plant at the university. Sixty-four solar panels, each encompassing about 40-square-feet of heating surface, will provide heating for the university's 168,000-gallon swimming pool, hot water for the shower rooms in the men and women's locker rooms and hot water in washrooms throughout a major portion of the university.

As each solar panel circulates water at a rate of approximately 1-gallon-per-minute, the heat from the sun raises the temperature of the water to about 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Each panel can accommodate about 65-gallons of water per day for a total design capacity of approximately 4,168 gallons of water.

As the heated water leaves the solar panels, it travels to one of two, 318-gallon thermal storage tanks. From this point, the very hot water is circulated through one of four heat exchangers that will bring domestic water temperatures down to between 115 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit for shower and washroom needs and help maintain a year-round 81-degrees temperature for water in the swimming pool.

The $300,000 project is funded in-part by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The DCEO grant was awarded directly to Solar Service, Inc., the prime contractor for the project. According to DeBrizzio, the project was originally projected to bring a return on investment of around 12 years, but this was before fuel prices began escalating which now makes the project not only more economically attractive, but down-right fortuitous as well.

Once installed, responsibility for operation and maintenance of the solar system will be turned over to Chuck and his crew of operating engineers. Chuck told us that the training the operating engineers received through their union - the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 399, has well-prepared his crew to maintain, operate and if necessary, repair the system.

Solar Service, Inc. is no stranger to putting thermal solar systems together. The company had previously installed a solar system on the World's Largest Laundromat, also located in Illinois. That project was designed to heat more than 2,400 gallons of water a day for service in the laundry. The project saved over 2 million BTU's of natural gas each day and became the largest solar system in the state. The Governors State University system will of course, eclipse this former project when completed.

It is still found surprising by many that Illinois is a suitable state for solar projects but in 1979, the U.S. Department of Energy conducted a survey which showed that the Chicago, Illinois area was actually an ideal location for solar-derived energy. In fact, the survey indicated that the Chicago area maintained as much usable solar energy as Los Angeles, California or Atlanta, Georgia!

So why haven't solar energy projects exploded throughout the Chicago region? Well, in fact they are starting to become far more commonplace as the city government officials encourage solar power and as fuel prices continue to reach record-breaking levels.

Incentives remain available from federal, state and municipal governments for investing in solar energy. With investment tax credits and accelerated depreciation available, solar energy has become very attractive, especially to astute business owners who are determined to manage their real estate fuel costs.

Each year Governors State University brings quality education to a student body of approximately 6,000. As we said goodbye to Chuck and left the university, we did so knowing that the education they offer is not solely to their students but extends also to business owners and homeowners throughout the Midwestern United States. Offering an opportunity to not only save money but to help free the United States from its present dependence on foreign oil resources, Governors State University is putting into place an energy strategy that makes sense not only for Illinoisans but all other Americans.

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