Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

San Jacinto College Goes Solar

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/25/21

San Jacinto College, located in the metroplex area of Houston, Texas, has announced plans to add solar electricity arrays to two of its buildings. The arrays, designed and installed by Sunfinity Renewable Energy, are set to lower the school’s utility costs by millions and contribute to better air quality in the area.

“Solar generation is just one part of the college’s commitment to improving our energy efficiency,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College Chancellor. “We have always been a trusted steward of the community’s resources. These solar arrays are simply a visible reminder of that ongoing commitment.”

One of the arrays, a 391 kW solar system with 990 solar panels, will go into the Central Campus’ Anderson-Ball Classroom Building, slated to open in Jan. 2022. The building measures in at 122,000 square feet, and is notable for using foundations from previous campus buildings and as the largest educational building in the country made of mass timber.

The other array, a 263 kW system with 667 solar modules, will go into the Jones Building on South Campus. The Jones Building is currently seeing a $13M renovation project that started late last year and is scheduled to finish by fall 2021. Part of the renovations include updating the classrooms for peak period use.

“Sunfinity has helped a wide range of businesses reap the benefits of solar energy,” said Sunfinity Chairman and CEO John Billingsley. “That includes nonprofit and for-profit organizations, but bottom line – it’s about the bottom line. A ‘commercial’ solar system can return hundreds of thousands of dollars—even millions—that can go toward other priorities. We think San Jacinto College has made a wise decision in going solar, and we appreciate their confidence in us.”

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Tomball ISD Opens New Tomball West High School

    Tomball Independent School District in Tomball, Texas, recently celebrated the official opening of Tomball West High School, the district's third comprehensive high school, with a community ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a district news release.

  • Wenger Names New Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts, Controls

    Wenger Corporation, which provides products and solutions for music and theater education, performing arts and athletic storage, recently announced the hiring of a new Vice President of Sales for Performing Arts and Controls.

  • Virginia Tech Tops Out New College of Engineering Building

    Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., recently celebrated the topping out of Mitchell Hall, which will soon stand as the largest College of Engineering building on campus, according to a news release. The university partnered with Skanska on the 285,500-square-foot facility, which has an expected completion date of winter 2028.

  • Nashville Elementary School Receives LEED Gold Certification

    Goodlettsville Elementary School, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Nashville, Tenn., recently achieved LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to a news release. The 81,750-square-foot school opened in 2023 and was designed by Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC).