Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
- Will the University put photovoltaic solar panels on its buildings to generate renewable energy?
- Will the University put tanks on its existing buildings to collect rain water?
Will the University put photovoltaic solar panels on its buildings to generate renewable energy?
Solar photovoltaic panels do generate much more energy than goes into producing them. They are presently, however, a very expensive way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The NSW Greenhouse Plan [.pdf 1049kb] (2005, p. 15), for example, shows the cost of reducing emissions through photovoltaics ($278/tonneCO2e) as the highest of a range of options. Energy efficiency improvements are shown as being the least expensive way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the 'cost' of emission reductions through commercial energy efficiency investments is -$25/ tonneCO2e; that is, instead of costing money, investing in emission reductions through energy efficiency actually makes money.
CSU may still support photovoltaics, but more significant benefits for the environment might be gained through other investments. The cost effectiveness of photovoltaics may improve with a 'feed-in tariff' (a premium price paid for the generation of renewable energy) proposed for NSW.
Will the University put tanks on its existing buildings to collect rain water?
Similar to the case with solar photovoltaic panels, it appears that CSU can save more water through investing in other water saving measures than water tanks for existing buildings. New buildings however, in nearly all cases, are being built with rain harvesting tanks for irrigation and/or flushing of toilets.