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Spring 2008
RESPC received a revised copy of Elm's Feasibility Report and then decided to set aside $160,000 for a 48-panel solar thermal project on the roof of Fetzer Gym. RESPC also attended meetings about the Genomics Project and became more involved with a potential Integrated Photovoltaic Project for the south-facing astronomy observatory deck on Chapman Hall. On March 3, RESPC commissioned a feasibility study from Wilson Architects for the Chapman PV project at a cost of $14,800.

Fall 2007
Elm Engineering concluded that 36 solar thermal panels could meet approximately 50% of the domestic hot water demand for Fetzer’s Gym facilities. The solar thermal installation would coincide with a roof replacement project scheduled to begin in the summer of 2008. While reviewing the Fetzer project, the committee also met with representatives from Skidmore Owings Merrill, the firm designing the Genomics Science Complex to explore the possibility of integrating renewable energy into the building's development.

Summer 2007
Over the summer, RESPC commissioned Elm Engineering to conduct a study on the feasibility of installing a solar thermal system on the roof of Fetzer Gym.

Spring 2007
RESPC committed $210,000 to fund the construction of 30 geothermal wells to be installed at the NC Botanical Garden's Visitor Education Center. Additionally, as the Morrison dorm renovation project came into its final few months of construction, RESPC toured Morrison to view the 172 solar thermal panels that were installed and to view the progress of the dorm's renovation.

Fall 2006
 RESPC commissioned a report to determine the feasibility of a solar water heating project for Woolen Gym's Kessing Pool. The results indicated this project would not be cost-effective, and, so, the committee continued its work on other projects.

Fall 2005
 RESPC provided funding for the incremental cost of fueling the University owned Point-To- Point (P2P) bus fleet with B-20 biodiesel for the 2005-2006 school year. Our committment then prompted the University’s administration to include the extra cost of B-20 biodiesel in future P2P budgets.

Summer 2005
Over the summer, RESPC met with various members of Facilities Planning to discuss renewable energy opportunities on current and upcoming campus projects: the Science Complex Phase II, the Koury Natatorium, and the Kessing Pool.

RESPC continued to help and support renewable energy initiatives at other schools.

Spring 2005
In January, the State Energy Office made a grant of $137,455 to the Morrison project, supporting an advanced monitoring system for the renovated building's solar water-heating system. The grant, which was made at a meeting of the Energy Policy Council in Raleigh, culminated a long process of writing, research, lobbying, and meeting-attending by RESPC, UNC's Department of Housing and Residential Education, and UNC Facilities Planning.

On February 8, the Green Energy Fee was renewed for four years, with 85% of the 6,963 voting students  "Yes" on the referendum in the general election. Click for Daily Tar Heel Article about Referendum

RESPC researched alternative energy options such as photovoltaic cell systems, wind power, and geothermal power. The committee also evaluated the potential for solar energy projects on north campus buildings.

Fall 2004
RESPC continued to coordinate with the Morrison Residence Hall Renovation building team to plan for the exhibits and website to accompany the solar unit. In conjunction with members of Facilities Planning and Housing, RESPC sought a grant from the State Energy Office for the Morrison project and worked on several smaller grants.

Spring 2004
The UNC Board of Trustees approved the renewable energy fee in January, as did the UNC system Board of Governors in March. This concluded the approval process, and the fee was cleared for collection starting in the 2004-05 school year.

RESPC continued its involvement with the Morrison Residence Hall renovation and committed $184,000 to the project to ensure funding for a solar array. However, the Board of Trustees publicly considered dispensing with renovations and simply tearing down Morrison. They ultimately decided to let the building stand and proceed with renovations at their May 26-27 meeting.

Many RESPC members helped with the successful Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference, which was held April 2-4 at Duke and UNC and attended by hundreds of students from throughout the country. The conference instructed and encouraged students at other schools to follow UNC’s example and support renewable energy on their campuses.

On April 16, RESPC members gave a presentation to the monthly meeting of University Project managers and architects about the Committee and its services. Students made important connections with the project managers and architects and learned about other potential projects, such as the Genomics Medicine building.
Fall 2003
RESPC attended project meetings and contacted project managers to inform them of renewable energy options for their projects and the relevant funding. Specifically, RESPC contributed to a grant for sustainability initiatives on the Morrison Dorm Renovation project, which is a High Performance Guidelines Demonstration Pilot Project sponsored by the Triangle J Council of Governments. The student fee was approved by the Student Fee Audit Committee (SFAC) and the Chancellor's Committee on Student Fees on October 6; it must still be passed by the Board of Trustees of the University and the UNC system Board of Governors, which should occur by March of 2004. The RESPC also continued to build relationships with businesses, non-profits, faculty, staff, other universities, statewide renewable energy supporters, and Carolina students.
Summer 2003
Spain-bound RESPC Chairman Ken Varner, Charlie Anderson, and Robin Sinhababu continued to work on the committee. They contacted other universities and met with ex-officio members of the committee, businesses, and non-profits.

Spring 2003
Following the successful Green Energy Campaign, RESPC was created by legislation in Student Congress that accompanied the passage of the bill that put a referendum on the student ballot to raise student fees $4 a semester to support renewable energy on campus.

On February 11, 2003, the referendum was approved by 74.5% of students. In April, the Student Body President, the Graduate and Professional Student Federation President, and the Speaker of Congress selected the committee members, who were then approved by Student Congress. RESPC was thus formed, and some of the original members of the committee (Ken Varner, Charlie Anderson, Margaret Teich, Vincent Lagace, Cameron Morgan, Stacie Nagy, and Christy Edmondson) went to the task of writing a constitution.

The constitution was written (click here to view a copy in Microsoft Word format), and the committee established relationships with administrators, faculty and staff so that they could hit the ground running in the fall.
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This page last updated 25 March 2008.

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