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It took construction crews nearly eight months to install the solar facility.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n \u201cWe flipped the switch last week and connected the solar farm to the electrical grid on campus,\u201d said Jeff Redderson, Furman\u2019s associate vice president for facility and campus services.\u00a0 \u201cThe additional solar power will reduce our campus-wide electricity expenditures by up to 5 percent annually and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n The 743-kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array is also set up for net metering, which means any excess power it generates can be sold back to Duke Energy. Redderson estimated the reduced energy costs will bring a return on Furman\u2019s investment in eight years.<\/p>\n \u201cFurman takes its environmental responsibilities seriously, and we\u2019re proud to be a leader in our sustainability programs and renewable energy systems,\u201d said Furman President Elizabeth Davis. \u201cIn addition to increasing the university\u2019s solar power production and reducing our energy costs, the new solar facility will serve as a laboratory for Furman students pursuing careers in sustainability.\u00a0 We are constantly working to become a more sustainable campus, and this project is another example of our commitment to that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n Davis said the new solar installation will also help Furman reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2026, the year of the university\u2019s bicentennial.<\/p>\n Duke Energy contributed to the project by providing Furman with a $997,000 solar rebate, one of the company\u2019s largest to date. The company launched its rebate program in October 2015 to assist South Carolina customers with the cost of installing solar.<\/p>\n Furman contracted with Power Secure Solar, a North Carolina-based company with a local office in Greenville, to oversee the solar installation.<\/p>\n