(April 20, 2009)

Contact: Rick DelaHaya, Centenary News Services, 318.869.5073

College Celebrates Earth Week With Solar Array Dedication April 23

Magale Library

SHREVEPORT, La.—In celebration of Earth Week, Centenary College will hold a ribbon cutting and dedication of the College's first solar energy array, Thursday, April 23 beginning at 11 a.m. on the roof of the Magale Memorial Library.

The solar panels which have been installed on the roof of Library, and will help power the building, save money, decrease Centenary's impact on the environment, encourage more sustainable living practices, and promote scholarship.

Matt Roberts of One Planet Solar completed the installation recently of a 1.5 kilowatt solar array, which over time can be expanded to produce nearly three kilowatts of electricity. A south-facing three kilowatt system with no shading can produce about 4,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or approximately 1/3 of a typical household's annual energy use. Roberts worked closely with the faculty at Centenary to bring solar energy to the campus, and has generously donated more than half of the array to the College.

The installation represents a joint effort by the Centenary Environmental Association and the Centenary Chemistry Club, two student organizations. Part of the funding for the array came from Centenary's Student Government Association and from student fund raising. The Associated Colleges of the South contributed a significant portion of funding as well so that the array could be used by professors in math, chemistry, physics and environmental studies for teaching demonstrations. A wireless display will be mounted in the lobby of the library and show the amount of electricity being produced each day.

For more information, contact Rick DelaHaya, Director of Marketing & Communication, at 318.869.5073.


About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.