This guide is a celebration of solar energy technology, highlighting resources available at Camosun Library and activities around the college, including Array of Hope, the EBSCO Solar grant project.Thanks to a significant grant from EBSCO Information Services, and additional funding from the college, more than half (50%) of the electricity used at the Alan Batey Library and Learning Commons will soon be supplied directly by the sun! Camosun Library was thrilled to be selected to be the second Canadian library to receive this award in June 2022.
The Array of Hope will consist of 90 photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on the lower southwest roof and walls of the Lansdowne Library that will be visible from ground level. The rooftop installation will be accessible for class visits and tours and accompanied by mock PV panels and data displays to provide hands-on, applied learning opportunities. Expected to produce 46 MWh/year, the installation is a tangible symbol of the college's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The grant proposal received strong support from faculty and students, with a motion being passed by the Camosun College Student Society recognizing how the project would “positively impact students by helping to reduce climate anxiety and provides an invaluable opportunity for all students to learn firsthand about solar energy".
Contractor Hakai Energy Solutions is helping bring this vision to life. We expect it will be fully functional by Spring 2025. In the meantime, Librarians have been purchasing print and digital resources for both libraries on various aspects of solar and renewable energy, ranging from general interest and small-scale projects to more technical manuals.
Refer to the subpages of this guide to browse a selection of new titles.
