{"id":8476,"date":"2024-12-11T01:51:19","date_gmt":"2024-12-11T01:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/?p=8476"},"modified":"2024-12-17T21:56:28","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T21:56:28","slug":"millersvilles-positive-energy-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectgreenlancaster.millersville.edu\/index.php\/2024\/12\/11\/millersvilles-positive-energy-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Millersville Uses Utility Rebates to Fund Projects\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Millersville University uses Utility Rebates from self-sustaining buildings to fund green project grants.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

By Noel Quinn<\/strong><\/p>\n

Green energy is a growing industry as we are a quarter into the new millennium. Aside from the benefits of it being renewable, and having a limitless supply, it does so in a way that doesn\u2019t actively harm the planet. Millersville University has been doing its part as well with the construction of the Lombardo Welcome Center in 2018. Ever since then, Millersville has benefited from the use of a zero energy building and the eventual financial profit it brings.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Building Sustainable Energy\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lombardo Welcome Center started construction with the basis of it being a self sustaining zero energy building. All power is to be drawn from the solar panels outside of the building itself. In order for a building to be zero energy certified, the building must produce<\/span><\/p>\n

the same energy that it uses for a year. The Welcome Center ended up achieving the certificate for being a zero energy building the year after its construction. This makes it one of the first buildings in Pennsylvania with that certification.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Lombardo Welcome Center with one of the many solar panels to the right (Credit Noel Quinn)<\/p><\/div>\n

With that being said, constructing a building with self-sustaining energy can be difficult as a lot of the green energy like solar panels costs a lot of money to get operational. Through the use of the Pennsylvania Act 129, Millersville is able to gain rebates for reducing their energy usage on electrical grids that have a big carbon footprint. With the financial gain of the rebates, Millersville University has used the money to promote positive projects through the Positive Energy Fund.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lombardo Welcome Center Energy Production and Consumption in 2019 (Credit Millersville University)<\/p><\/div>\n

Sharing Green\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

The Positive Energy Fund is a way for the University to keep the greater Lancaster County growing by funding promising projects. This can be from a variety of different problems including social, economic, and of cour<\/span><\/p>\n

se, environmental. All projects get started through the application process. Both staff and students of Millersville University are welcome to apply. The process requires that a project narrative be submitted to gain a basic understanding of the project. Once done it is reviewed by the board and the project itself can receive up to $2,500 in a grant to fund the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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United in Growth<\/b><\/p>\n

The Positive Energy Fund follows the Global Goals for Sustainable Development put forth by the United Nations in order to reduce the world\u2019s carbon footprint. Formed in 2015 on the basis of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, these goals follow 17 basic rules that focus on individual issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Some of the rules are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n