The last couple of days have been seasonably gray and wet here in Southern Maine. Some may say we’ve had it coming. I think you’ll agree that the weather has been unusually pleasant this fall. It seems we’ve had more sunny days in a row than we’re normally allotted. This is good news not only for you “winter blues” and SAD sufferers, but also for the Sullivan Gymnasium. No, I’m not alluding to the droves of committed athletes or the steady stream of health conscious students going into the building, I’m referring to the 40 panel solar-thermal water heating system on top of the building. Did you know that USM has maintained this renewable energy system for over 20 years? Twenty years! That’s something to be proud of.
This specific type of environmentally-friendly heating system is one of the most widely used sun-powered systems in the world. As you may have guessed, those big panels on the roof collect energy in the form of sunlight, which is then converted into thermal energy (hence the solar-thermal part). This energy is in turn used to heat the water that all you ambitious athletes and dedicated gym-goers use when you shower up after a vigorous work out. You probably thought you were just maintaining good personal hygiene, but what you were really doing was taking part in a worldwide quest to keep our planet healthy.
During the summer, almost all of the shower water used in the Sullivan Gymnasium is heated with solar energy. That’s free energy, available to all, that isn’t taxed, isn’t destructive and isn’t difficult to find. While those 40 solar panels simply sit there, soaking up the sun, a special heat transfer fluid works its magic. This fluid is heated by the panels and then pumped through a system of tubing. The tubes run into the building, through a heat exchanger, and into both of the gym’s large water storage tanks. There the water sits in the storage tanks as heat is transferred from fluid to water: convection at work. This fluid cycles continuously from roof to storage tank. When the weather turns cold, like it is now, this system still adds BTU’s to the water, thereby decreasing the use of fossil fuels that would otherwise heat all of the water all of the time.
As a USM student, you are part of a community that is taking responsibility for its impact on the environment. The advantages of a solar powered heating system are huge. By taking partially solar heated showers, we are reducing CO2 emissions and setting an example for our community and colleges nation wide. We are taking steps to make sustainable living a reality.
Once the new Abromson Community Education Center is finished, (you know, the building attached to the parking garage) USM will have taken a huge step (while leaving a smaller ecological footprint) toward sustainability and that is a reality. This building will be powered with 100 percent renewable energy. One hundred percent renewable energy! Energy from wind power and a geothermal heat pump system, along with a photovoltaic array are planned for the new building. The carpet will be recyclable, the paint non-toxic, the lighting energy efficient and the wood partially salvaged. Of course, since this is a university, there will be several large educational exhibits showcasing the beauty of our state and constructive ways to preserve and maintain it. Once completed, USM hopes to achieve a rating of silver (or gold) from the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program.
There are many reasons to be excited about being part of an environmentally responsible campus. There are also many ways to become involved, whether it be attending a meeting, recycling this newspaper, or simply taking a shower.