THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM ON ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES TWO

ERS 250 Professor: Paul Kay RESEARCHERS: Paul Buttery, Stefani DeAngelis, Wendy Carwardine, Sarah Sheridan, and Katherine Siren Autumn 2004

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 1.0 CONTEXT 2.0 PURPOSE 3.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES 4.0 METHODOLOGY 5.0 RESULTS 6.0 ANALYSIS 7.0 CONCLUSION 8.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY 9.0 APPENDIX 3 4 5 5 7 14 27 29 32

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1.0 CONTEXT In upcoming months there will be potential for the remaining space in the Environment Studies 2 building to be converted into a green space. What this entails is that all components inside and outside this area be examined to reduce impacts on the environment. One of the options was feasible even before Environment Resource Studies was allotted the space in ES2. Solar energy in recent years has become well known through projects such as Fed Hall and many campuses across Canada which have adopted a solar approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With this in mind, the focus of our project has been to examine the feasibility of installing a solar efficient system. Showcasing environmental responsibility is one of the focuses of both WATGreen and ERS 250 Greening the Campus. Retrofitting ES2 into a green building would be the ultimate opportunity for the Environmental Studies faculty to demonstrate the passion they preach in theory. Our objective is to determine whether or not it is feasible to implement a solar energy system on the ES2 building. To approach this issue we observed sub-systems, and organized them into inputs or outputs of the overall system. Refer to Appendix Figure 1 for the Systems Diagram. The solar energy system would contribute to the following WATGreen goals:

To assist in the communication of information on sustainability and environmental curriculum. (Modules on renewable energy can be added to the syllabus of a wide range of courses). To develop guidelines for environmentally responsible design practices. (A solar panel array would emphasize the overall green building vision) To provide a mechanism for students, staff and faculty to study and evaluate the University systems in order to act towards environmental improvement within the community. (The solar array can be used as a theme for research assignments, or to generate community awareness into the benefits of solar power). (WATGreen, 2004)

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2.0 PURPOSE In the most general sense, our solar energy system case study focuses on the implementation and feasibility of a clean, alternative source of electrical power. Specifically we have examined the installation, utilization, positioning and maintenance of solar panels on the Environment Studies 2 (ES2) building. Another focal point of the report has included examples of other universities; their obstacles and achievements with solar energy as well as their comparison to the University of Waterloo. There has also been an assessment of local companies as possible suppliers of solar panels and as a component of the life cycle analysis. With these topics in mind an evaluation of international solar energy leaders has been included to demonstrate a growing trend for solar energy. There have been several WATGreen projects on campus with regards to solar utilization, such as The Feasibility of Implementing Solar panels on Federation Hall (2002). The certification process for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was examined to demonstrate the steps the University can take to promote sustainability. Other universities and colleges have developed similar plans to install solar panels on new and newly renovated buildings; such as Oberlin College, Queens University and the University of British Columbia. Case studies of their positive effects were used to demonstrate that the University of Waterloo can develop an appropriate and effective means to install solar panels on ES2. The University of Waterloo should have a campus that reflects its research objectives and advancements in environmental studies. There is an excellent opportunity available for the university to showcase environmental design throughout the ES2

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building. Our objective is to argue that the installation of Photovoltaic (PV) panels is a key building element in any environmental design process.

3.0 RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES Our basic objectives when researching were to determine the feasibility of implementing a solar energy system on ES2. We focused on finding out how the solar cell functioned, as well as the installation and maintenance needs of the cell. We looked into the roof structure to establish what approach we might take if the solar panels were to be installed. We also determined the educational potential of the project, and how the university and community could benefit from a solar array on ES2. Finally, we investigated and compared results from past local, national and international projects.

4.0 METHODOLOGY When determining what components are needed to retrofit a solar energy system into an older building such as ES2, there were many things that needed to be examined. The fact that the second and third floors of the building are currently not in use made it difficult to figure out how much electricity the building normally requires and what its future needs might be. Past energy audits were not available for the building, so we determined with our own audit an estimated amount of electricity consumed by lighting throughout the second and third floors. We have used RETScreen software obtained from the Natural Resources Canada website, to calculate the energy production and life cycle costs of solar panels. We examined different kinds of photovoltaic arrays and examined the general costs and benefits of each kind to determine which would be most effective.

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A key aspect of implementing solar panels on ES2 is to understand how they operate. Several documented websites, consulting books, and journal articles were used to research all operations relating to solar energy. Various web sites were used that went into depth regarding the production of silicon cells and how they generate electricity. If solar panels are to be installed on the roof of ES2 there is a concern with the exact positioning for the complete effectiveness of the cells. Research on the local climate involving solar radiation and cloud cover was examined to determine the overall efficiency of the proposed panels. The most pertinent concern was the amount of possible solar radiation. Data was collected from the Weather Network website, as well as the University of Waterloo weather station website. Background research was primarily obtained through key informant interviews, and archival measures (i.e. government documents, case studies, books). Expert interviews were used to obtain information regarding positioning and installation techniques. One of the experts we interviewed was Jeff DeLoyde from the universitys STEP program (Solar Technology Education Project). We prepared a set of fact-based questions regarding the installation of the solar panel array on Federation Hall. We took the opportunity to meet with him and see if we could learn both from STEPs accomplishments and errors. Through our interviews with experts we realized there is an interest in solar walls as well as panels. We have researched the option of solar walls, but have since determined that the better choice is indeed solar panels because they are more recognizable as a symbol of environmental technology.

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Other important sources which were used include government publications, books and internet sources. These documents provided information regarding the positioning, material composition and utilization of solar panels. Many academic internet sources provided very factual information from organizations whose main goals are to update stakeholders on the latest solar energy technologies.

5.0 RESULTS 5.1 The Components and Functions of Solar Panels The following is a list of required materials to make a solar panel according to the How Stuff Works website. Below a diagram (Figure A) displays the structure of a solar cell. A semiconductor Usually silicon combined with phosphorous to make negative type silicon and boron to make positive type silicon, combined to make an electric field. A contact grid A metallic grid that shortens the distance the electrons have to travel, but does not take up too much of the surface area. An Antireflective coating This is put on top of the contact grid. Its purpose is to reduce the amount of photons lost to less than 5%. Cover Glass This layer of glass is used to protect the solar cells from the elements.

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Back Contact A backing made of metal, to allow for good conduction.

A Battery or Grid Without energy storage, energy would only be available during the day. By utilizing a battery, or connecting to the local energy grid, you can generate and store energy during the day, and use it at night or on overcast days.

A Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) Inverter The power generated by solar cells is not the same kind of power used in our everyday appliances. The inverter converts the solar energy into useable electricity.

Figure A: The Structure of a Solar Cell (How Stuff Works, 2004) In the most basic sense, when light from the sun hits the solar panel in the form of photons, a certain portion of it is absorbed by the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely. PV cells also have one or more electric fields that act to force electrons to flow in a certain direction. This flow of

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electrons is referred to as a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the cell, we can draw that current off for external use. The problem with this, however, is that the power generated by solar cells is a direct current (DC). In order to use the energy, we need an inverter to convert the energy to alternating current (AC). Also, as you are connected to the grid, you have an unrestricted source of electricity, and do not need to rely solely on solar energy (How Stuff Works, 2004). When dealing with an ongrid system, it is recommended that a battery not be used, as it is unnecessary to store excess energy. The on-grid system actually runs less efficiently when a battery is attached, because energy is lost when charging the battery (Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, 2004). At night, a back-up source of electricity must be used in place of the solar energy. To get a general idea of the wiring process, and the system components, see Figure 2 in the Appendix. As for the inverter type, size depends of the number of panels attached to the grid and amount of incoming convertible energy. 5.2 Variations of Solar cells Single crystal silicon is one material used but is not the only material in photovoltaic (PV) cells. Polycrystalline silicon is also used in an attempt to cut manufacturing costs, although resulting cells are not as efficient as single crystal silicon cells. Amorphous silicon, which has no crystalline structure, is also used, again in an attempt to reduce production costs. Other materials used include gallium arsenide, copper indium diselenide and cadmium telluride. Since different materials have different band gaps, which define the amount of energy that can be absorbed by a single cell, they seem to be "tuned" to different wavelengths, or photons of different energies. One way efficiency has been improved in PV arrays is to use two or more layers of different

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materials with different band gaps. The higher band gap material is on the surface, absorbing high-energy photons while allowing lower-energy photons to be absorbed by the lower band gap material beneath. This technique can result in much higher efficiencies and can have more than one electric field. (How Stuff Works, 2004) 5.3 RETScreen RETScreen International is a standardised and integrated renewable energy project analysis software. This tool provides a common platform for both decisionsupport and capacity building purposes. RETScreen can be used worldwide to evaluate the energy production, life-cycle costs and greenhouse gas emissions reduction for various renewable energy technologies (RETs). RETScreen is made available free-ofcharge by the Government of Canada through Natural Resources Canadas CANMET Energy Diversification Research Laboratory (CEDRL). (RETScreen, 2004) To estimate costs and energy production of the panels RETScreen software was utilized. When using the software, three different options were examined. Option 1 is based on the best case scenario where cost is not an issue, and all appropriate roof space is utilized. Based on the blue prints of the roof top, and the dimensions of the ASE-300DG/50 panel, it was estimated through renderings by Yvonne Siren that 193 panels could potentially be placed on ES2. Through the same process it was estimated that using Option 2, which examined placing solar panels only the lower roof, 119 panels could potentially be installed. It was concluded that with Option 3, the most conservative option considered with the software, it would be possible to place 73 panels on the third floor roof of ES2. The software also determines the amount of time required to achieve a positive cash flow from the project, based on the initial and annual costs. The results of the RETScreen software are displayed in Table A below. This data has been used to develop conceptualized blueprints depicting the appearance of the ES2 rooftop with the three different options outlined above. These blueprints are available upon request.

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Table A: RETScreen Results Number of Panels 192 119 73 Renewable Energy Generated (per year) 34.253 MWh
(34253 kWh)

Option Option 1 (2nd and 3rd floor roofs) Option 2 (2nd floor roof) Option 3 (3rd floor roof)

Initial Costs (Cdn) $ 748, 903 $ 458, 219 $ 275, 005

Years till Positive Cash Flow 8.6 years 8.3 years 8 years

21.233 MWh
(21233 kWh)

13.027 MWh
(13027 kWh)

5.4 Energy Audit We were unable to require the energy consumption of ES2 for a number of reasons. First of all, the grid that the building is on is shared by a number of buildings and it would be quite difficult to isolate ES2s consumption from the other buildings. Secondly, only the first floor of the building is currently in use. If we were to conduct an energy audit of ES2 as it is being used currently, the results would be only a fraction of the true consumption. We looked to past audits to determine the amount of energy consumed before architecture vacated the building, but we were unable to find any prior audits. Even if such an audit was available it could only be used to extrapolate about the future energy consumption, as the uses of the building will change once renovations are complete. So to supplement for a complete energy audit, we administered a lighting audit of the 2nd and 3rd floors, and an audit of the computers in the Mapping, Analysis and Design General Use PC Lab (see Table B below for results). The average daily use was calculated based on 8 hours of use per day. The actually hours of use would probably be greater but for simplicity we chose an 8 hour work day.

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Table B: Results of Energy Audits Audit Daily Electricity Consumption (based on 8 hour day) nd 2 Floor Lighting 24.75 kWh 3rd Floor Lighting 4.18 kWh General Use PC Lab 374.48 kWh (Computers and monitors only)

5.5 Implications on the Efficiency of PV Arrays Figure B demonstrates the amount of solar energy available in the Waterloo region on a monthly basis. It is clear that the most sunlight is available from April to August therefore efficiency decreases during the winter months. (Department of the University of Waterloo, 2004)
Incoming Shortwave Radiation in Waterloo (2003)
Quantity of solar energy (W/m2) 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

Months

Figure B: Monthly Solar Radiation Figure C represents the arrays angled at specific inclines which will maximize solar energy. The angles differ depending on the seasons, in the summer the sun is higher in the sky so the incline is lower as opposed to the winter the sun is lower in the sky so the incline must be higher. (Photovoltaic system, 2002)

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Se

Au gu st pt em be r O ct ob er No ve m be De r ce m be r

Ja nu a Fe ry br ua ry M ar ch Ap ril M ay Ju ne

Ju ly

Figure C: Canadian Seasonal Panel Inclination 5.6 Disposal of Solar Cells Solar cells, although producers of zero emissions, still contain toxic materials. Cadmium Telluride (CdTe), used to make the thin film of cells, is a very hazardous substance. It can be disposed of in landfills as long as the cell fulfills the requirements of elution tests such as the US-EPA Toxicity Characterization Leachate Profile (TCLP). This provided that it is insoluble in water and does not pose a threat to groundwater contamination. Also, the cells are encased in plastic or glass, and are not exposed to the elements. CdTe can also be recycled, by means of smelting, and used over again. The recycling of solar cells as a whole is technologically and economically feasible. (U.S. Department of Energy, 2004) 5.7 Roof Structure The roof structure is an important aspect to consider when dealing with the installation of a supporting structure for the solar panels. The structure of the roof on ES2 is inverted which means that the membrane is covered by a layer of insulation, sheathing and gravel. Refer to Appendix Figure 3 for a diagram of the structural design of an

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inverted roof. The solar panels will be secured to the sheathing layer of the inverted roof to ensure they remain stable during adverse annual weather conditions. 5.8 Maintenance The benefits of solar PV systems is that there are very few components requiring maintenance and whatever is required is generally limited to ensuring that the panels are kept relatively clean and that shade from trees has not become a problem (Renewable Energy Technologies, 2003). Some difficulties that were mentioned by Byron Murdock (Construction Coordinator for Plant Operations) pertained to the maintenance of solar panels during the winter months, specifically snow accumulation on the solar panels.

6.0 ANALYSIS 6.1 Recommendations on the PV Array Options First of all, polycrystalline cells may save money when it comes to manufacturing, but are not as effective as mono-crystalline, when it comes to generating energy. However, if substantial roof space is available, we can buy more polycrystalline cells and produce the same amount of energy. Therefore, we should focus on implementing polycrystalline cells. Second, it would be much more feasible to connect our solar panels to the local energy grid. Batteries may provide complete independence and the ability to produce zero emissions, but they have several drawbacks. Batteries do not last nearly as long as the average solar panel and need to be replaced quite often. Also, there is no need to store power when the source of energy is connected to a grid. A grid connection does not have any limitations to power use, and any excess energy

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produced can be sold back to the power generation company. Due to the electricity requirements of ES2, strain will be lifted from the local electricity grid. 6.2 RETScreen Software The calculations derived from the RETScreen software are based on the best-case scenario. The options (1,2, and 3) are not intended to reflect our recommendations for this project only to show the potential that such a project would have without any constraints. In addition, the panels that were used in the software, ASE-300-DG/50 are only an example of the PVs that are available. They were used because they were one of the models provided in the RETScreen Product Database. Other solar panels may have different dimensions, therefore taking up a different amount space on the roof, and may have a different capacity for energy generation. With this in mind the results RETScreen software can not be used to firmly conclude the energy production and costs of implementing solar panels on ES2. However, the software does provide us with an idea of the potential of this project. 6.3 Installation, Maintenance, and Roof Structure Sub components of installation include type, structure, wiring, and positioning of the panels. Aluminium would be the ideal material for a structural base because it is able to maintain stability while decreasing the total mass on the roof. An aluminium structure was used at Fed Hall. Plant Operation Construction Coordinator Byron Murdock was in charge of the installation process on Fed Hall, he recommended that an aluminium structure was the most viable because of its ability to withstand harsh climatic conditions. Our system is grid tied therefore it will not require as many components as would on off grid system. What we suggest to do is attach the wires from the solar panels and

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run them through the roof and down into the inverter. Refer to Appendix Figure 2 for a wiring system diagram. For the optimal utilization of solar radiation the PV arrays should face south. True south is best, but a deviation of 15 degrees east or west will not affect performance very much.(Photovoltaic System, 2002) The panels could either be installed on the second or third floor roof, as they both hold the capacity for an effective amount of incoming solar radiation. On the second floor roof there is more room to place solar panels and it is easily accessible for yearly maintenance, especially during the winter. The maintenance required is minimal. Winter seems to be the most crucial time when the panels need maintenance due to the accumulation of snow which reduces the amount of photons absorbed. The wiring and components of the system should be checked regularly by a qualified technician (Renewable energy Technologies, 2003). The strength of the roof structure can influence the ability of the building to support the weight of the solar panels. According to Peter Fulcher of Plant Operations (2004) there is a possibility that the roof will be completely replaced in approximately 5 years because natural processes will decompose the roof materials. Installing the solar panels when the roof is replaced in five years would be more cost effective then installing them during the current renovation plans. Installing the panels now would require the removal of roof layers down to the membrane making the entire roof structure vulnerable to water damage. 6.4 Life Cycle Analysis Solar Panels are perceived to be one of the most clean renewable energy sources currently available. Although they do not generate any greenhouse gas emissions during

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the operation of collecting solar radiation, they carry the environmental weight of other phases in their life cycle. Emissions are produced during their manufacturing and possibly on decommission (World Energy Assessment, 2000). The manufacturing process of PV panels has become much more efficient in recent years, with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions being reduced to 548.9kg CO2 per unit for the ASE-300-DG model (Sadek Ali, 1999). Consult Table 1 in the Appendix for this data. Within the first few years of solar electricity production these emissions are compensated for. For example, the 36 panel solar array at Fed Hall abates over 1200kg of CO2 per year (S.T.E.P., 2004). To analyze the energy and environmental efficiency of solar systems, it is essential to expand the system boundary, taking into account the hidden impacts related to assembly, transportation and system disposal of solar panel materials at the end of their technical life. Analysis has shown that energy and environmental performances of PV systems becomes more interesting and complex. As the system design is more integrated with the whole building, all aspects of a solar system become included in a life cycle analysis. A general systems boundary of a products life cycle is clearly defined in Figure 4 of the Appendix. (Battisti, R., 2003) When it comes to the disposal of solar panels after their allocated life span, the options are either discarding the materials in a landfill or recycling parts that can be reused. As long as the solar cells can be pass required tests to be safely deposited in a landfill, they are easily and cheaply disposed of. Recycling would be the best option in an economic and sustainable approach. Recycling saves companies from having to extract more materials from mines and further degrading the environment.

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6.5 Local Companies Local companies are recommended for solar panel installation as they can reduce the life cycle impact of long distance transportation and they have a decreased reliance on large-scale global markets. ARISE, located in Kitchener, is a diverse energy company with a dedication to provide sustainable energy solutions. The company has manufacturing and engineering credentials and is a leading example of the next generation of energy source providers. ARISE provides custom solutions for advanced building integration and renovation involving photovoltaic panels. Products are manufactured in Kitchener, with service and installation available for all southern Ontario. (ARISE Technologies Corporation, 2004) The ARISE Technologies Corporation created the largest solar grid connected system in Canada. This project was in coordination with COOK Homes Construction of Waterloo, which involved a multidisciplinary team for two and a half years. They focused on installing integrated photovoltaic systems on the rooftops of approximately ten new homes. This project was the first of its kind in Canada and has set a precedent for future developments. ARISE has been a leader in many other projects including one with the University of Waterloo involving the installation of PV panels at Fed Hall. Within future plans, ARISE has suggested developing projects with Universities in Ontario to promote solar energy throughout the province. (ARISE Technologies Corporation, 2004) Enermodal Engineering is another company in Kitchener with expertise involving photovoltaic panels. Enermodal designed Canadas first C-2000 office building as well as the Waterloo Region Green Home. The C-2000 program involves commercial construction programs promoting energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.

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From the viewpoint of energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental impact the Waterloo Region Green Home is one of the most advanced houses in the world. (Enermodal Engineering, 2004) In conclusion, the purchasing of solar panels for ES2 should be prepared through a local company in hopes of forming local economic and environmental partnerships. 6.6 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary program that promotes sustainability through a rewarded points system. If a company or an institution such as the University of Waterloo wanted to become certified, every step towards sustainability is evaluated and given a point based on the overall credentials of sustainability. This process is an incentive for companies to gain positive publicity. LEED has many purposes including the classification of common standards for defining a green building. LEED wants to promote integrated design practices and transform the building market. Gaining points and becoming certified is a lengthy process and requires large amounts of resources. (Kay, 2004) There are five categories to becoming certified including sustainable site planning, safe guarding water and water efficiency, energy efficiency and renewable energy, material and resource conservation, and indoor environmental quality (Kay, 2004). Installing photovoltaic arrays on ES2 would provide a small number of points towards the energy efficiency and renewable energy category. 6.7 Educational Opportunities As stated on the S.T.E.P. website, solar panels not only improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote solar technology awareness and energy

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conservation issues, but they also foster a spirit of interdisciplinary and collaboration and offer a direct educational value to the University (S.T.E.P., 2004). The educational values of solar panels are endless, there are many courses currently offered at the University of Waterloo that could benefit from the implementation of solar panels on ES2. Refer to Appendix, Table 2 for a listing of these courses. As seen at Oberlin College, courses have been created around the design philosophy of green buildings related to the Adam Lewis Joseph Centre. Creating awareness about the panels is an indirect educational opportunity. Since the solar panels would not be completely visible from ground level, a strong awareness campaign is essential to educate the student and local population. The simplest way to do this is through an informative display board located at the Ring road Entrance of ES2. An example of such a display is the sign located outside of Fed Hall. Plans are underway to develop a real-time monitoring program to report the amount of energy generated by the panels on Fed Hall (S.T.E.P., 2004). For those parties who have a keen interest in getting a close view or more information about the system, an observation deck could be created on the lower roof of ES2. This observation deck could be used for tutorial or lab field trips, and tours. The relatively new Center for Environmental and Information Technology at the University of Waterloo, and the Earth Sciences Museum currently offer tours to local grade school classes, childrens groups and clubs (Earth Sciences Museum, 2004). Exposing children to environmental issues may encourage them to develop awareness for environmental issues.

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6.8 Institutional Leadership Oberlin College in Ohio, USA, has designed an environmental studies building that exceeds environmental values and has become a leader in green building design. The Adam Lewis Joseph Centre (ALJC) at Oberlin acts as a core component of Oberlins Environmental Studies Curriculum as an integrated building landscape system. Solar energy production on the building is joined with energy efficient lighting, heating, and appliances to minimize negative environmental impact. A substantial fraction of the buildings energy needs are provided by Photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof of the ALJC. A major component of a green building is to keep in mind the educational value and opportunities of the building elements, which is often overshadowed by economic costs. Oberlin College uses the design of ALJC as direct focus in some of its Environmental Studies courses. (Oberlin College ALJC, 2004) There are courses offered in the Environmental Studies and Arts curriculum that are directly focused on the design and analysis of the ALJC. Practicum in Ecological Design of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center is one of the exciting courses offered at Oberlin. In this course the ALJC for Environmental Studies serves as a case study to critically examine issues of design intent, theory and practice. Showcasing a building is an excellent opportunity for Institutions such as Oberlin to further their reputation as a leader in comprehensive environmental design. (Oberlin College ALJC, 2004) Another course offered with a direct focus on the design and theory of ALJC is the Art & the Environment course. Regional and national artists worked with art and environmental studies students to design art for the AJLC that would enhance its ecological messages and improve its aesthetics. Art projects are selected through a

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charette process, and may be further developed into permanent art work within the building. (Oberlin College ALJC, 2004) There is another Independent Study course offered at Oberlin with a derived intention relating to the ALJC. This course includes students from a variety of disciplines completing independent projects with a focal point on the performance, impact, or evolution of the AJLC (Oberlin College ALJC, 2004). These course ideologies relating to environmental building design and theory can be used here at the University of Waterloo. A green building at the University of Waterloo would create educational opportunities across all faculties, from Environmental Studies and Arts to Engineering and Science. Two other Universities in Canada are demonstrating significant leadership in environmental building design concepts. Queens University and the University of British Columbia both have sustainable design aspects involving new and renovated buildings on their campuses. Beamish-Munro Hall home of the Integrated Learning Centre at Queens University utilizes green building features to address sustainable environmental technologies. These green design features have been incorporated into the building for both environmental and educational reasons. The Integrated Learning Centre uses photovoltaic arrays as a source of renewable energy on the side of the Goodwin Hall building. During spring of 2003, an array of polycrystalline silicon Photo Watt panels was erected. The panels are arranged in four rows and tilt outwards 20 from the side of the building to act as sunshades for the windows and also to capture an increased amount of solar radiation. (Queens University, 2004) The University of British Columbia is an excellent role model for all institutions as it sets aggressive green targets for all new buildings on campus. The award winning

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C.K. Choi Building for the Institute of Asian Research opened in 1996 and has set new green building standards for the world. The building features many reused and recycled materials along with natural ventilation, highly efficient lighting, grey water recycling and composting toilets. (The UBC Campus Sustainability Office, 2004) Another building on the UBC campus, The Liu Centre for the Study of Global Issues, opened in 2000 and is recognized for the use of high-volume fly ash concrete. Fly ash replaces cement in concrete mix and is a waste material from coal-fired power plants. The manufacturing of cement in Vancouver produces almost as many greenhouse gas emissions as all of the city's vehicles combined. In 2001, a design began on a new building to house UBC's Institute for Computing Information and Cognitive Systems, the Life Sciences Centre, and the Learning Centre. Project designers aimed for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver rating equivalent to promote and recognize the Universities significant measures in promoting sustainability. The University of British Columbia is truly a leader in sustainable building design. In 2002, another proposal for a sustainable development showcase building was in progress. Also, a proposal to install solar energy panels on the Michael Smith Biotechnology Laboratories was planned. (The UBC Campus Sustainability Office, 2004) In conclusion, many Universities are taking part in the sustainability movement and are becoming recognized as responsible institutions throughout the world. Installing solar panels on Environmental Studies Two would prevent the University of Waterloo from falling too far behind the many leaders now present in the field of environmental design.

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6.9 International Innovation There is a perception that most areas in Canada do not receive enough solar radiation throughout the year to produce enough electricity to make a solar system effective. In reality, Southern Ontario has more annual sunshine than most of Germany and Japan, where the use of solar technologies is extensive (ARISE Technologies Corporation, 2004). Countries like Germany and Japan are at a huge advantage, they have become world leaders in solar technology and have benefited economically. In 2003, Germany had approximately 20,000 solar electricity systems installed with an overall output of 145 Megawatts (MW), twice the volume installed in the previous year. Germanys total solar electricity capacity is now estimated to be over 400 Megawatts. Germany had the fastest growing PV market in the world in 2003 with the solar market generating total revenues of over 800 million. Over 10,000 jobs in production, distribution and installation of solar panels have been created putting Germany at the forefront of the competition. Germanys northern climate is similar to that of Southern Ontario, proving that northern climates provide an efficient amount of incoming solar radiation. (Solarbuzz Inc. 2004) Although Germany is the fastest growing market, Japan in 2003 had the largest market for solar photovoltaics. In 2003 alone Japan installed 219 Megawatts of solar photovoltaic energy. Japan and Germany are now established leaders and will gain the most from technology advances and job creation from one of the fastest growing energy resource systems. (Solarbuzz Inc. 2004) In addition, Spain is taking advantage of solar energy to become a major competitor in the production of renewable energy. Spain wants to make solar panels

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compulsory in all new and renovated buildings to save fuel costs and to improve the environment. To turn Spain from a tag along country into a leader in the production of renewable energy, anyone who intends to build a new home is obliged to include solar panels in their plans. Official estimates state that installation of solar panels in 3.5 million dwellings built in the past five years could have yielded a fuel cost savings of over 245 million. (Sharrock, D., 2004) In conclusion, Canada falls behind many countries and will lose any advantages it may have if it does not act soon and become a leader in the production of renewable solar energy. One way a country such as Canada could become a leader would be to encourage its educational institutions to fund projects related to solar energy production. If the University of Waterloo promoted solar panels on ES2 and other buildings across campus it could easily add leadership in solar energy production and research to its fine reputation. The benefits from publicity alone would act as an incentive in such a fast growing market. 6.10 Environment and Human Health Concerns Not only does the burning of fossil-fuel energy resources contribute to local air pollution, they also increase the atmospheric greenhouse gases responsible for global climate change (See Appendix, Figure 5). Canadas efforts to prevent abrupt climate change have been through the use of the Kyoto Protocol International Agreement. Under the agreement, by 2012 Canada promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 6% below 1990 levels (Brean, 2004). This initiative comes after learning that global greenhouse gas emissions increased at an alarming rate in the past decade, with levels increasing in 18% from the levels in 1990 (See Appendix, Figure 6). As an institutional

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leader, the University of Waterloo has the opportunity to become the leader of the pack in terms of emission reductions. As an Environmental Studies faculty, there is a push to innovate renewable energy sources to encourage widespread uses, which will in turn reduce our ecological footprint. This effort to decrease air pollution will also have positive affects on the regional healthcare systems. According to the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) in the year 2001 Waterloo Region had 500 hospital admissions, 70 premature deaths and almost $400 million in total health and economic costs associated with respiratory illnesses (Citizen's Advisory Committee, 2004). Given the information above, any initiative taken to improve the local air quality; small or large scale, is a worthwhile one. 6.11 Recommendations 1) Seriously consider renewable energy technologies as an alternative to the present day energy generation methods, as costs of these unsustainable sources will steadily increase. 2) The University of Waterloo should take an active role in promoting itself as an environmental leader through the implementation of PV arrays on ES2, as well as greening other buildings on campus. 3) Energy efficient lighting and appliances should put in place to make better use of the energy generated by the solar panels. 4) To fully integrate a PV energy system into the ES2 building, an energy audit must be undertaken once the building is in full use, to calculate the total electricity consumption.

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5)

Plant Operations should refrain from installing the solar panels until the roof is scheduled to be replaced.

6)

If a solar array is to be implemented, the University should prefer polycrystalline cells over mono-crystalline in order to cut costs, but not efficiency.

7.0 CONCLUSION 7.1 Bias During our investigation of a solar energy system, we neglected to explore residential solar initiatives because our focus was to examine the feasibility on an institutional structure. Identifying residential examples could have given us a chance to broaden our research objectives and provide alternative perspectives to the overall research design. The tree growth surrounding the ES2 building, and the impact this growth will have on the interference of solar radiation was not key factor in our consideration. This information could be useful in the placement of the solar panels. Public participation, in the form of surveys, was not approached in our research intentions. We felt it was more productive to approach parties with expertise in various research fields to ensure our data and research would be reputable. Due to the complexity of the system, and the many different elements it encompasses, we were unable to provide complete measurements and cost analysis. Engineering phases and other complex calculations require a level of expertise beyond the boundaries of this project.

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With these preconceptions in mind, it is the opinion of this group that this report embodies the most crucial and relevant information that could be obtained within the time constrictions. 7.2 Concluding Statement We have determined that implementing the solar energy system is desirable, feasible and acceptable. A solar energy system is feasible due to the fact that solar technologies are improving in quality and increasing in prevalence. The publicity of such a system acts as an incentive to build on the Universitys reputation. Rising costs of electricity and poor air quality are further motives to implement solar panels on ES2. Finally, the amount of incoming solar radiation is an efficient amount to power an effective system. Based on numerous examples, both local and international, the widespread use of solar panels has proven its acceptability. The overall desire of a solar energy system is to provide a clean and renewable energy source. From a solar energy system the University desires recognition in environmental design, and promoting educational opportunities for its students, faculty, and staff.

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8.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY Adam Joseph Lewis Centre for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College. 2003. Oberlin College. 25 Nov. 2004 <http://www.oberlin.edu/ajlc/ajlcHome.html>. ARISE Technologies Corporation. 2004. ARISE Technologies Corporation. 12 Nov. 2004 <http://www.arisetech.com/index.html>. Battisti, Riccardo, Corrado, Annalisa. Evaluation of technical improvements of photovoltaic systems through life cycle assessment methodology. Energy 30 (2005) 952967. August 23, 2003 Brean, Joseph. Canada.com. 2004. Global Television. 25 Nov. 2004 <http://www.canada.com/national/features/kyoto/kyoto_facts.html>. Buildings at the University of Waterloo. 2003. University of Waterloo, Communications and Public Affairs.17 Nov. 2004 <http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infoipa/buildings.html>. Canada's National Environmental Indicator series 2003 - Climate Change. 2004. Environment Canada. 17 Nov. 2004 <http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/Indicator_series/new_issues.cfm?issue_i d=4&tech_id=15#graph3>. Citizen's Advisory Committee on Air Quality Waterloo Region. Idling Reduction Education Campaign. 18 Nov. 2004 <http://www.pirg.uwaterloo.ca/~cacaq/irec/irec-facts.html>. C. K. Choi Building for the Institute of Asian Research Liu Centre for the Study of Global Issues. 2004. The UBC Campus Sustainability Office. 25 Nov. 2004 <http://www.sustain.ubc.ca/greenbuilding.html>. Cook, Patti. Personal Interview. Friday, October 15th, 2004. Earth Sciences Museum. 2004. Earth Sciences Museum University of Waterloo. <http://www.sci.uwaterloo.ca/earth/museum/index.html> Enermodal Engineering. 2004. Enermodal Engineering. 11 Nov. 2004 <http://www.enermodal.com>. Fast Solar Energy Facts. 2004. Solarbuzz Inc.. 25 Nov. 2004 <http://www.solarbuzz.com/FastFactsGermany.htm>. Fulcher, Peter. Personal Interview. November 11th, 2004

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Green Building. 2001-2004. Queens University Faculty of Applied Science. 25 Nov. 2004 <http://appsci.queensu.ca/ilc/greenBuilding/>. Kay, Paul. LEED. University of Waterloo, Waterloo. 28 Sept. 2004. Murdock, Byron. Personal Interview. November 16th, 2004 The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors. 1999-2004. NACH. 15 Nov. 2004 <http://www.nachi.org/toc-roofing.htm>. Northern Arizona Wind and Sun - Solar electricity reference and photovoltaics information. 19 Aug. 2004. Northern Arizona Wind and Sun Inc. 15 Nov. 2004 <http://www.windsun.com>. Photovoltaic (PV)-Solar Electricity. 2003. Renewable Energy Technologies. 15 Nov. 2004 <http://www.savenergy.org/pdf/Photovoltaics%20BC.pdf>. Photovoltaic System: A buyers guide: Installing and maintaining your Photovoltaic system 2002. Natural Resources Canada. 17 Nov. 2004 <http://www.canren.gc.ca/prod_serv/index.asp?CaId=101&PgId=559>. Sadek Ali, Mir. Planning Renewable Electricity using Life-cycle Analysis. Waterloo: M. A. Sc University of Waterloo, 1999. 67-69. Solar Electricity; Solar Basics. 2004. PowerLight Corporation. 17 Oct. 2004 <http://www.powerlight.com/solar/solar_basics.shtml>. Solar Technology Education Project. 2004. S.T.E.P., University of Waterloo <http://www.step.uwaterloo.ca> "Spain makes solar panels mandatory in new buildings." Times Online 19 Nov. 2004. 21 Nov. 2004 Tough Choices: Addressing Ontarios Power Needs. Jan. 2004. Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force. 15 Nov. 2004 <http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/english/pdf/electricity/TaskForceReport.pdf>. United Nations. UN Development Programme. Energy Assessment: Energy and the Challenge of Sustainability. New York: Bureau for Development Policy, 2000. University of Waterloo. 2004. University of Waterloo Undergraduate Calendar 2004/2005. University of Waterloo. Waterloo, Ontario.

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University of Waterloo Weather Station. 2004. University of Waterloo, Department of Geography. 17 Nov. 2004 <http://weather.uwaterloo.ca/>. WATgreen Student Library. University of Waterloo. 20 Sept. 2004 <http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infowast/watgreen/projects/library/>. Your Roofing Supply Specialists. 2003. Enercon Inc. 17 Nov. 2004 <http://www.enerconroof.com/products/lexcor.htm>.

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9.0 APPENDIX Figure 1: Systems Diagram

Figure 2: Wiring system (Powerlight Solar Electric Systems, 2004)

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Figure 3: Structural Design of an Inverted Roof

(The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, 2004) Table 1: Summary of ASE-300-DG/ 50 PV array CO2 emissions Item Carbon Dioxide Emissions 126.9 kg CO2/unit Steel 3.185 kg CO2/unit Glass 37.1 kg CO2/unit Aluminium 9.5 kg CO2/unit Cement 371.9 kg CO2/unit Semiconductors 0.35 kg CO2/unit Transport Total Fixed CO2 548.9 kg CO2/unit Total Variable CO2 0 tonnes CO2/unit (Sadek Ali, 1999)

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Figure 4: Systems Boundary of Life Cycle (Battisti, R., 2003)

Table 2: Courses which may potentially benefit from a Solar Energy System
ARCH 125 LEC 0.50 Principles of Environmental Design An introduction to the environmental aspects of architectural design and to an analysis of the form that landscapes take and the processes and ideals leading to those forms. Topics of discussion include environmental concepts and influences on design, site planning, landscape, sustainability, embodied energy, climatic influences and microclimates. Environmental Building Design This study of building construction and design examines relationships between design development and environmental building practices. Case studies, testing exercises, and projects will be used to investigate: solar geometry, influences of climate, regional circumstances, sustainability, vernacular building practice, daylighting, and passive design. Energy related issues will be addressed and energy based software design programs will be introduced. The detailed design of an energy efficient/passive solar building as the final term project will be undertaken. Environmental Systems A focus on the air and water systems of buildings with an aim to developing knowledge and skills appropriate to architectural practice. Subjects covered include environmental parameters, heating and cooling loads, energy conservative design, the selection of heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems, plumbing systems, and fire protection criteria and systems, with reference to building codes and standards. Energy Systems Energy resources and electric power generation. Power system structure: generation, transmission, and distribution. Power system components: generators, transformers, transmission lines, and circuit breakers. Power system analysis: power flow, active and reactive power controls, fault analysis and protection, power system stability. Labs alternate weeks.

ARCH 226 LEC 0.50

ARCH 273 LEC 0.50

ECE 261 LAB,LEC,TUT 0.50

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ECE 354 LAB,LEC,TUT 0.50

ERS 218 LEC 0.50

ENVE 320 LEC,TUT 0.50

ENVS 195 LEC,SEM 0.50

GEOG 459 SEM,TUT 1.00

ME 459 LEC 0.50

PHYS 112 LEC,TUT 0.50

PHYS 112L LAB 0.25 SYDE 524 LAB,LEC,TUT 0.50

Real-Time Operating Systems Introduction, basic concepts, process management, interprocess communication and synchronization, memory management, file systems, resource management, interrupt handling, concurrent programming. Lab project. Introduction to Sustainable Environmental and Resource Systems Examination of patterns and trends in major environmental systems and natural resource use. Analysis of these resources in the context of sustainable development. Local, regional and global systems will be examined. Environmental Resource Management Environmental systems, resource utilization and allocation. Economic analysis of public projects, maximization of net benefits. Decision-making methods in environmental engineering including matrix methods, linear programming, network models, lagrange multipliers and dynamic programming. The concept of risk, risk probability, dose response models, decision analysis and risk-cost-benefit analysis. Evaluating environmental systems: probability and predicting failure. Introduction to Environmental Studies Provides an overview of human ecological aspects of environmental studies from an intercultural and global perspective Energy and Sustainability Renewable and non-renewable energy supply systems are compared using economic and environmental measures. Consumption trends and conservation options are considered at the local and global level. Projects are used to demonstrate the economic and environmental challenges in the design of a sustainable energy system. Energy Conversion Review of reserves and consumption trends of Canada's and the world's energy resources. Design of fossil-fuel central power plants, including boiler efficiency calculations and advanced steam and binary cycles. Review of atomic physics including fission and fusion energy. Design of nuclear fission power plants including design of reactor core for critical conditions, fuel cycles and radiation hazards. Design considerations for solar energy conversion devices including: availability of solar energy, solar-thermal converters, thermal storage and photovoltaics. Principles of fuel cells and some aspects of their design. Other topics as appropriate. Physics 2 A continuation of PHYS 111; includes simple harmonic motion, electrostatic force and potential, electric current and power, DC circuits, magnetic field and induction, wave motion, sound and optics. Physics 2 Laboratory For students who have taken or are taking PHYS 112. Embedded Real-time Systems Design Introduction to Embedded Systems and Real-time Systems. Hard versus soft Real-time Systems. Real-time issues in computer architecture. Clocks and timing issues. Correctness and predictability. Structuring and describing Real-time software. Clock Synchronization. Real-time objects and atomicity. Validation of timing constraints. Formal Real-time systems design and analysis techniques: process-based, event-based, and Petri Nets. Resource management and control, Real-time scheduling and task allocation (Uni-processor and Multi-processor). Hardware/Software Co-design. Design for dependability, reliability and fault tolerance. Real-time programming.

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Figure 5: Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide

(Canada's National Environmental Indicator series, 2004) Figure 6: Canadian Greenhouse gas emissions

(Canada's National Environmental Indicator series, 2004)

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