Earlier this week, David Hyman , my economics professor who has a penchant for playing music in his classes, decided to play “Good Day Sunshine” at the start of the class. He added later, in a lighter vein, that after a week that saw earthquakes and hurricanes and rains, even the hot sun made for good company. Indeed.
The sun is and will always remain the earth’s biggest source of energy, keeping us warm and well-fed by helping us grow our food. Today, technology has made it possible for us to store the sun’s energy and use it to produce electricity, drive cars and even use calculators. However, a lot of real problems exist in the economic feasibility of harnessing the power of the sun.
The economic feasibility, and possibly other reasons, have led the University closing of the N.C . State Solar House “until further notice.” The North Carolina Solar House, located at the McKimmon Conference Center, has been closed since July due to budget cuts. The University has made no announcements about the Solar House’s possible reopening in the near or distant future. While this decision may be helping the University save some badly needed capital, it robs campus of one of its few institutions that could represent our interest in alternative energy.
Come to think of it, the campus does not have a single “green” landmark that showcases our prowess and interest in climate change to visitors and students alike.
To its credit, Student Government has not let the debate die down completely, and by organizing its annual “Think Outside the Brick” competition—accompanied by a winning prize of $1000—is encouraging students to do just that. The competition is organized by the Sustainability Commission of the Student Government and aims to recognize student ideas that help promote sustainability on campus. It also provides funding for a potential implementation of these projects on campus once the results are announced.
But just organizing the competition and rewarding the interest will not be enough. Ideas that are not implemented can deprive us of unaccounted benefits.
Last year, the winning entry was for a solar gazebo, which has remained just that—a winning entry. A Google search for ” NCSU solar gazebo” barely shows one relevant results page. The first entry is by the College of Natural Resources “News Central” and the tenth is the Technician’s interview with the contest winners. Strewn in between are the websites of companies selling gazebos and solar electric appliances, accompanied by an occasional book review.
The year before, the contest was more productive. The contest resulted in the University helping to set up the SOUL Garden—a community garden managed by the students where they can grow and eat their own produce. But where is it? Next to the dam at Lake Raleigh on Centennial Campus. Hidden from sight. Invisible on Google Maps.
Statistics like 60 percent of the research on campus being related to energy mean little if students can’t even see a single physical manifestation of this effort on campus. I ask the University to please give us something to constantly look at, play with, dabble in, something that will remind us how important this issue is. Let the Red and White think about going green.
Hopefully in the years ahead the University can free up some spots between Centennial and Carter-Finley that will help our students think more and more about climate change and the importance of sustainable development. Not only that, it will also help proclaim to observers that the University is a progressive place and is serious about solving the challenges of the 21st century.
