The SMU campus has been reflecting this summer with its solar panels on the low roof of Patterson Hall. 

While the 68 panels provide the more obvious assistance in power, they also offer a learning experience for area schoolchildren.

Michael Paul, executive director of Facilities Management and Sustainability at SMU, has been ready for a project like this for a while.

“We had always wanted to do a demonstration project,” Paul said in an e-mail interview. “With the Prothro project’s LEED initiative, we felt that we had the best opportunity to get a LEED point for on-site renewable.”

The panels’ location of Patterson Hall was chosen specifically for the low roof, providing an easy and safe visit for educational purposes.

These 68 panels, installed in November 2009, produce 81-kilowatt-hours of electricity on an average, sunny day—enough electricity to power 336 laptop computers for eight hours—according to SMU News.

 This is a small portion of the campus’ energy usage, however, and Paul intends for more panels to be installed as they become more affordable. 

Efforts have also been made for the education provided by these panels to reach beyond schoolchildren. An online system allows users to access data concerning the panels. 

It shows the science behind the absorption of the sun into transformation into energy, along with this is the panels’ history of energy production.

Two portable solar panels have also been created to use in various classes in the Lyle School of Engineering.

Paul believes that many universities are doing similar projects as the common effort to encourage sustainability continues. As of now, what sets SMU slightly apart from others is the ground level roof, Paul said.

The next step is to gain K-12 students’ involvement. Paul said as they conduct the LEED tours, they encourage the students to do more.