CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., Apr 23, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) --American
Public University System (APUS) today hosted a ribbon-cutting
ceremony to celebrate the completion of its new solar array, West
Virginia's largest. The opening, the most recent milestone in the
school's ongoing sustainability efforts, follows the opening of its
energy-efficient Academic Center in late 2010, and precedes the planned
completion later this year of its new adjacent Financial Center.
"Yesterday, people around the world celebrated the 42nd
Anniversary of Earth Day by reflecting on the importance of sustainable
living and embracing renewable energy," said APUS President & CEO Dr.
Wallace E. Boston. "Today, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting a
more sustainable future for our students, our communities and our
country."
The state-of-the-art installation includes more than 1,600 American-made
solar panels on a canopy structure in the parking lot behind the
Financial Center, and 15 charging stations, which will allow employees
and visitors to re-charge their electric or hybrid vehicles. The new
array will provide approximately half of the energy requirements of the
Center, or enough electricity to power:
-
30 average-sized homes, or 480,000 kilowatt hours of electricity
annually;
-
More than 1.9 million miles, equal to 120 commuters driving 15,000
miles per year
Dr. Boston was joined by West Virginia Congresswoman Shelley Moore
Capito and local government and Environmental Protection Agency
officials. The dignitaries applauded APUS for its latest, and most
visible, commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship as part
of the greater Charles Town and Ranson WV communities.
In addition to the electricity generated, the new solar panel carports
will enable APUS to provide sheltered, more efficient parking space,
while keeping the asphalt cooler and thereby eliminating the "heat
island" effect. To see a time-lapse view of the array's construction,
visit http://www.mtvsolar.com/videos.php
"Integral to the APUS mission is a commitment to expanding access to
affordable online higher education in a manner that supports local
communities and respects the environment," added Dr. Boston. "We're
truly excited to be part of this milestone in setting a high standard
for other universities and local businesses to emulate."
APUS is a charter signatory of the American College and University
Presidents' Climate Commitment - a promise to work toward reducing the
online institution's already low carbon footprint in the years to come.
Its related efforts include an adaptive re-use policy, a comprehensive
recycling program, usage of environmentally-friendly cleaning products
and an employee carpooling program, along with the use of electric
vehicles for local business travel. For more information, visit http://apus-sustainability.com/
About American Public University System
American
Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium's 2009
Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and two-time
recipient of Sloan's Effective Practices Award, offers 87 online degree
programs through American
Public University and American
Military University. APUS's relevant curriculum, affordability and
flexibility help more than 100,000 working adults worldwide pursue
degrees in a diverse variety of subjects. For further information, visit http://www.apus.edu
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50249097&lang=en
SOURCE: American Public University System (APUS)
American Public University System
Brian Muys, Media Relations
703-268-1143
bmuys@apus.edu
or
Chris
Symanoskie, Corporate Communications
410-215-1405
csymanoskie@apus.edu