Pacific Lutheran University

Thanks to the generous support of Parkland Light and Water, Pacific Lutheran University in Parkland, Washington received 7-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) installation in 2012.

The installation uses local Washington-made PV modules and power inverters from Silicon Energy installed in a staggered array on the roof of Facilities Management Building to accommodate shade from nearby trees. The power produced will supply the electric use needs of the building and will account for financial savings each year.

Energy monitoring provided to the university by Solar 4R Schools connected the live performance data from their PV system to the Energy Exploration Center at Solar4RSchools.org. Students and educators nationwide can chart, graph and analyze the system's performance data for educational purposes. A touchscreen kiosk placed within the Facilities Management Building allows staff, faculty, students and visitors the ability to interact with the system's live performance data while learning about the science and benefits of renewable energy.