Columbia Museum of Art received $213,500 grant from US Department of Energy to implement a renewable energy project:
"This project demonstrates the value of using solar in a facility that has a lot of visitors. We are glad the Columbia Museum of Art is using this opportunity as an educational tool for the public as well as creating a source for clean energy."- Ashlie Lancaster, SC Energy Office Director
This is the only solar project of this size in the city of Columbia and the largest commercial project in South Carolina
The Solar Panels will...
PRODUCE up to 10% of the Museum's daily usage
OFFSET 40 tons of carbon every year
SAVE 379 trees per year
GENERATE 53,340 kilowatts per hour which is 933,450,000 candles worth of light
The 177 poly-crystalline silicon solar panels cover 4,000 feet on the roof and will produce 53,340kWh annually - enough to power five new homes.
The panels are configured into two sub arrays consisting of 99 panels and 78 panels, each 3 x 5 feet.
The grant, awarded by the SC Energy Office, is one of twelve renewable energy projects funded by the Energy Office that are part of $3.2 million awarded to non-profit organizations and government entities in South Carolina through funds made available bythe American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Museum has ample roof space and will continue to add additional panels to further increase power output.
