Sustainable energy projects at the University are getting a boost this week with the help of grants and investments.
According to a statement released Monday, six sustainability projects at the University and Lane Community College on the greening of labor, building, water efficiency and other community efforts received a portion of a $1 million grant from the London-based Meyer Fund for a Sustainable Environment in 2007, which is allocated to several projects each year.
University physics professor Frank Vignola received the largest portion of this year's funding with a grant for more than $58,000 to support his project of building a curriculum approach that teaches students the principles of solar technology in an engaging manner.
Steve Mital, director of the University's Office of Sustainability, said the Meyer Fund grant provides the resources necessary for faculty and researchers to conduct these green projects.
"It's all the difference in the world," Mital said.
Other areas of Vignola's sustainabilty research work also benefit from an investment announced Tuesday.
Vignola's solar radiation monitoring laboratory, which has been collecting solar data for more than 30 years, is part of the network that received funding from the Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center. The center announced its investment in solar energy research at both this University and Oregon State University.
The University of Oregon's portion of the $1.34 million investment is $768,000, which will establish a collaborative solar energy laboratory for the Oregon Support Network for Research and Innovation in Solar Energy.
The support network that will include facilities and scientists throughout Oregon University System is based out of the technologies center that funded the investment.
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