UNIVERSITY NEWS - OCTOBER 2003

MEDIA CONTACT: Kristine M. McGrath
561-297-1168, kmcgrath@fau.edu

FAU Enters Into the World of Renewable Energy
FAU students create Solar Electric Sidewalk for A.D. Henderson

BOCA RATON, FL (October 30, 2003) - A solar electric sidewalk, designed to save Florida Atlantic University's A.D. Henderson School hundreds of dollars in electricity costs a year was unveiled and dedicated today.

The culmination of an FAU College of Engineering senior design project, the sidewalk, known as a photovoltaic system, will generate approximately 6,000 kilowatt hours per year. The project was created by four FAU engineering students, Kevin Dixon, John Langford, Amie Vaughn and Ursula Chavez.

"Every time a system like this is installed, more knowledge of the details of installing renewable energy systems is gained," said Dr. Roger Messenger, FAU professor of electrical engineering. "This system is particularly significant, since it is one of the more complicated systems, and it was designed by a team of engineering students."

In addition to assisting A.D. Henderson with its electricity consumption, the Henderson photovoltaic system will provide emergency back-up power in the event of an electrical failure.

The solar electric sidewalk was funded through grants from the Florida Solar Energy Center and Florida Power & Light Co. FPL actively supports research and development programs that promote the advancement of alternative, cost-effective renewable energy sources.

For more information on the solar electric sidewalk, contact Vilma Petrovsky
at 561-297-1023.
- FAU -