Education and Outreach - Building Integrated Photovoltaics

Education and Outreach

Education and outreach activities are critical factors in transforming the technology demonstration on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus into a process whereby others are encouraged to replicate the use of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) into new construction projects.

There are four basic avenues by which sponsors of this BIPV project hope to educate individuals on BIPV system specifics. The first centers around the creation of this Internet site, which among other things, has the goal of describing the technology and application process.

The next three involve an electronic information kiosk, a data acquisition system, and tours of Mary Ann Cofrin Hall. Building tours are coordinated and led by representatives from UW-Green Bay, Sommerville & Associates, and/or Wisconsin Public Service. All other education and outreach activities are courtesy of Wisconsin Public Service.

Electronic Information Kiosk

The electronic information kiosk in Mary Ann Cofrin Hall "brings the building to life" for students, faculty, staff and visitors. The kiosk terminals are user-driven via interactive touch screens, and can also be configured for tours and group presentations. The kiosk is a centralized source for information about the building, including:

A tour of the building's earth-friendly construction materials.
Continuous real-time display of the building's solar performance.
An introduction to the unique daylighting design that maximizes the use of available sunlight.
Building project overview and timeline.
A solar quiz to test your knowledge.

Kiosk Screen

Mary Ann Cofrin Hall's energy production is of particular interest to building occupants and visitors.

The amount of energy the building produces is continuously monitored and displayed within the kiosk's real-time data display screen.

Current temperature and sunlight as well as monthly statistics are also available.

The kiosk's content will continue to expand to increase its value to students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The electronic information kiosk is a project of Wisconsin Public Service.

State of Wisconsin's Focus on Energy program and the Energy Center of Wisconsin's WisconSUN program also provided partial funding. Kiosk design and content were developed by Marketlink, Inc. under the direction of Wisconsin Public Service.

Data Acquisition System

The Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) system on the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay campus is partly a research project to determine the cost and performance of this technology. As such, the photovoltaic (PV) system will be extensively monitored. Findings will be displayed to the public, saved, and analyzed. The lists below provide details as to the manner in which specific types of information will be collected via this Data Acquisition System (DAS). Data will be displayed on an electronic information kiosk housed on the Green Bay campus as well as this Internet site. Graduate students from University of Wisconsin–Green Bay will perform the data analysis.

Ambient Condition Measurements and/or Equipment

Type of Information Method for Collecting Data

Ambient Temperature Ambient temperature probe mounted outdoors on weather pole

Windspeed Anemometer mounted outdoors on weather pole

Irradiance Pyranometer mounted outdoors on weather pole

Building AC Power AC current and voltage transformer will output through a watt transducer

Photovoltaic (PV) System Measurements and/or Equipment

Type of Information Method for Collecting Data

Windows-based personal computer with monitor, containing the required DAS PCI cards, signal processing and logging software, and network interface capabilities

Back-of-Module Temperature Surface-mounted thermocouple adhered to back of module

DC String Current 10A DC shunt output through signal conditioner 0-10V output

DC Array Current 40A DC shunt with 100mV output through signal conditioner 0-10V output

DC Array Voltage DC voltage transducer 0-10V output

DC Array Power Calculated by data acquisition system

AC Inverter Output Currents AC current transformer through signal conditioner 0-10V output, 1 per phase

AC Inverter Output Voltage 1, line to neutral

AC Inverter Output Power Output of inverter AC current transformer and inverter AC voltage into Watt/VAR transducer 0-10V output

AC Inverter Volt-Amps VA calculated by data acquisition software

AC Inverter VAR Output of inverter AC current transformer and inverter AC voltage into Watt/VAR transducer 0-10V output

Inverter Temperature Surface-mounted thermocouple mounted inside the inverter