EAST WHITELAND TWP - Immaculata University continues to save energy with its latest project to install solar panels on the roof of the university's new Parsons Science Building.

The college has received 28 institutional solar panels thanks to a generous donation from college President Barbara Lettiere.

The college is awaiting approval from PECO before installing the solar panels.

"Immaculata University is making environmental issues a priority because our most precious resource is Earth," Lettiere said in a news release. "The entire campus community is committed to doing our part to care for the environment – including educating our current and future students on ways to contribute to this common goal."

The university estimates saving approximately $17,000 per year in electric and fuel costs, reducing the consumption of propane burned each year by approximately 8,200 gallons, and reducing CO2 emissions by the equivalent of approximately 68,000 pounds of coal not burned by the utility company to produce electricity.

Installation of the solar panels is one of many energy saving initiatives underway, or being planned. Other projects include replacing light fixtures with LED lights across campus, using geothermal wells to heat and cool buildings, installing occupancy sensors and upgrading HVAC controls to save energy, and upgrading to low flush toilets and water saving fixtures.

In addition, Immaculata continues its extensive recycling program. Immaculata launched a zero-cost textbook program using Open Educational Resources.

The 10 OER-based courses replaced traditional printed textbooks with online resources, including online texts from open-source sites, web-based articles and audio-visual resources in the public domain.

The university plans to increase the number of OER-based courses available to students.

Another example of Immaculata's commitment to the environment is the creation of a campus-wide task force dedicated to caring for the Earth.

The group is charged with finding new and creative ways that Immaculata can reduce its environmental footprint.