Skip to Main Content Skip to Main Navigation Skip to Footer
UNG Logo
  • Info For...
    • Accepted Students
    • Current Students
    • Parents & Family
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Alumni
    • Business & Community
    • International Students
  • Quicklinks
    • Directories
    • myUNG
    • Academic Catalogs
    • Athletics
    • Banner
    • Bookstore
    • Calendars
    • Campuses & Maps
    • Continuing Education
    • D2L
    • Employment / HR
    • IT Service Desk
    • Libraries
    • UNG Foundation
  • Admissions
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Academics
  • Cost & Aid
  • Student Life
  • News & Events
  • Athletics
  • About Us
Newsroom
  • All Articles
  • Media Relations Contact
  • Expert Guide
  • Points of Pride
  • Magazine
  • Social Media
    1. UNG
    2. News

    Solar panels to power part of Gainesville Campus

    September 22, 2021
    Dr. Jamie Mitchem, a professor with the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, stands near the solar panel pedestal system behind the Film and Digital Media building. He said using solar power helps UNG improve its sustainability by generating its own electricity on campus.

    Article By: Staff

    Water bottle refill stations and recycling bins are two highly visible steps the University of North Georgia (UNG) has taken to make its five campuses more sustainable. Utilizing the solar panels on the new buildings of UNG's Gainesville Campus is the most recent addition.

    "We are reusing 62 solar panels on the roof of the Health Sciences building and adding 125 solar power panels to the system," Adam Strzemienski, assistant director of facilities for capital planning and sustainability, said. "We are also hooking up the solar panel pedestal system behind the Film and Digital Media building."

    The solar panels on UNG's Gainesville Campus will generate power for the newly incorporated buildings.

    "When we applied the costs to repair and hook up the solar panels and install new ones, we realized that we would get a good return on our investment," Strzemienski said. "Within nine years, the brand-new panels will pay for themselves."

    Saving money was not the sole reason UNG elected to reinvest in the solar panels. Advancing the university's sustainability initiative was another factor, which came from the Faculty Senate and its solar committee. The Faculty Senate shares governance of UNG by working with the president and administration to recommend policy changes.

    "They wanted to explore the feasibility of installing solar power," Strzemienski said.

    Dr. Jamie Mitchem, professor with the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis, chaired the Faculty Senate. He also assisted the committee, which included Dr. Thomas Vogel, Dr. Sudhanshu Panda, Dr. Johnny Yoon, Dr. Prahlad Jat, Dr. Sam Rohrer, John Indergaard, and Strzemienski.

    "Using solar power helps UNG improve its sustainability by generating our own electricity on campus," he said. "Reusing the existing solar panels shows we are not being wasteful of resources we acquired. The new solar panels improve the efficiency of the system."

    Reusing the existing solar panels shows we are not being wasteful of the resources we acquired. The new solar panels improve the efficiency of the system

    Dr. Jamie Mitchem

    professor with the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis

    Solar energy is also a safe, clean and renewable energy source, Mitchem said.

    "Solar power avoids the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change," he said. "It is cheaper than the electricity rate for the building on which it is used, so it saves the university money. It is a genuine win-win solution."

    Allowing students and faculty to use the solar power tools and data was the third reason to invest in the project, Mitchem said. When Information Technology Services develops a system to display and capture the data from the solar panels, it can be accessed for instructional or research purposes.

    "Faculty hope to use the technology to monitor and display how much electricity is generated, how much carbon emission is offset, and how much money is saved by utilizing the solar panels on our buildings," Mitchem said. "This is not just an energy resource, but a practical educational tool."

    Contact the Author

    Book by Rifenburg explores cadet writing

    Book by Rifenburg explores cadet writing

    UNG English faculty member Dr. Michael Rifenburg is publishing a book about the writing training ROTC cadets receive.
    Cadets attend conference in Hawaii

    Cadets attend conference in Hawaii

    Cadets Chandler Harris and Jasmine Valentine attended the TechNet Indo-Pacific conference in Hawaii from April 11-13.
    Chemistry alumna, students earn prestigious fellowships

    Chemistry alumna, students earn prestigious fellowships

    Alumna Lydia Skolrood has earned acceptance into the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, while students Gina Diodati and Calvin Perdigao have received generous grad school funding.
    IESA celebrates 20th anniversary

    IESA celebrates 20th anniversary

    On April 21, the Lewis F. Rogers Institute for Environmental and Spatial Analysis at UNG and its more than 100 students will mark the institute's 20th anniversary.

    UNG Logo
    • Contact Us
    • Request Information
    • Quick Facts
    • Campus Maps & Directions
    • Student Consumer Information
    • Campus Safety
    • Emergency Information
    • Employment /HR
    • UNG Policies & Procedures
    • UNG Alumni Association
    • UNG Foundation
    • Ethics & Compliance Hotline
    • Human Trafficking Notice
    • Equal Empl. Opportunity

    © 2022 The University System of Georgia and the University of North Georgia.

    UNG follows the section 508 Standards and WCAG 2.1 for web accessibility. If you require this content in another format, please send an email to the ADA Coordinator.

    Use of military-themed imagery does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.

    • Accreditation
    • Accessibility
    • Privacy Policy
    AskNigel