Purdue Fort Wayne to install solar array at campus library
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
Purdue University Fort Wayne is embracing solar energy with a new grant from EBSCO Information Services.
The university’s Helmke Library is one of three libraries receiving grant support from EBSCO to cover the cost of solar array installation.
The Library technology company is awarding $300,000 in grants to the Helmke Library, as well as the Russell County Public Library in Kentucky and the Maplewood Memorial Library Foundation in New Jersey.
The Fort Wayne array is one of a series of sustainability projects adopted under the campus’ Helmke Solar ‘Sustainable Future’ Project. Other projects include a native plant garden and solar charging stations.
Mitch Davidson, Purdue Fort Wayne’s associate vice chancellor for technology, said in a news release that Indiana is the country’s second largest consumer of coal and that only 16% of the state’s electricity is produced through wind and solar energy.
He said Helmke Library’s solar array project will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 25 tons annually. The project is expected to power all technology and lighting in the library, as well as some other buildings on campus.
“Given that burning coal is a significant contributor to climate change, we would like to emphasize the importance of migrating to alternative energy sources such as solar and wind,” Davidson said. “With the assistance of this grant, we can demonstrate the positive impact of solar energy in Indiana and educate our students and community about the importance of doing so.”