EcoWorldly

Chosun University may have the hottest male and female college dorms in the world — if you’re talking solar energy.

Atop both the men’s and women’s dorm a 25 kilowatt solar system pumps out energy. The combined electricity generation of the two buildings is an impressive 50 kw.

The dorms are connected to the energy grid of Gwangju city, where the university is located. When the buildings make more energy than students use, excess energy flows into the city’s grid. When students use more than the solar systems can produce (say, due to post-final exam parties), the dorms simply top up with energy from the city’s supply.

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As if solar dormitories weren’t enough, Chosun University has an entire lab dedicated to solar energy technologies. The Solar Power Research Lab helps solar panel manufactures calculate their panels’ energy outputs under real world conditions (ie. cloudy days, varying temperatures, etc.).

The university has also put solar panels on a number of the other building surrounding campus:

• A hospital, which generates 10 kw
• A high school, which generates 20 kw
• The Engineering Department, which generates 3 kw
• The Solar Power Research Lab itself, which generates 12-15 kw during the testing of the panels
• A handful of other campus housing buildings, which have been fitted with solar panels

More Posts on Solar Power:

• Solar Days - Making Solar Energy Cool?
• South Korean Scientists Find Real Efficiency of Solar Systems
• Parking Lots with Solar Trees ™ Provide Shade for Shopping Malls
• Sun Run Offers Affordable Solar Energy!

Photo Credits: Gavin Hudson, EcoWorldly

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