TurtlEnergy is making its mark on the green scene with an innovative, custom-designed, 50 kilowatt solar-powered roof that covers the new glass-enclosed campus center at New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey.
The 4200 s/f roof, which is surrounded by a spacious outdoor terrace that has become a popular gathering spot for students, places pioneering green design squarely atop the striking building that was completed in time for the opening of the fall semester.
TurtlEnergy, a recently formed division of Turtle & Hughes, created the unique structure, which surpasses the energy efficiency of solar roofs composed of modules alone by 20%.
An integrated system includes a row of photovoltaic (PV) solar trackers that greatly enhance the performance of 160, 6' x 4'solar modules. The trackers use special structural engineering methods to maximize their ability to withstand even catastrophic weather conditions.
An interactive touch screen display The 50 kilowatt solar-powered roof kiosk installed at the entrance to the rooftop terrace that monitors the system's performance and charts energy equivalencies in real time has become a fascinating and educational draw for students.
Visitors learn that, for example, the roof has produced enough electricity to power approximately 150 homes in a day or brew over 8,000 cups of coffee.
The NJIT project is one of the first publicly bid photovoltaic projects.