Sign-up and post on Iberkshires today.It's Free!
Already a member? Log In
45°  H- 45%
The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.           
Saturday November 7, 2009
 Make us your homepage!
 

Election

Barrett Reflects on Accomplishments with Capital News 9
Alcombright's Victory Speech

Which election's more important?
Pittsfield
North Adams
Neither, nothing will change
  
pollcode.com free polls

Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here.

Daily Digest


This is Jake
He's been lost in Pittsfield for weeks but frequently sited. He was last seen heading toward the fire station on Peck's Road. He's tired, dirty and needs seizure medication. He's chipped. If you see him, call Julie at 413-537-5616, the vet 24/7 at 413-499-2820 or animal control at 413-448-9700.
How Much is Heating Oil this Week?
It's breaking $2.50 but still cheaper than gas.
Thanks to Gabriella Bond for sharing her memories of the Quincy Street house torn down last week.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.

Obituaries

Alice R. Filiault, 87
Lucille Burt, 92
More obituaries
Mary M. Hanlon, 82
George F. Sarrouf, 73

Sales Fliers

 
 

 

What's Playing


The popular anime character "Astro Boy" searches for acceptance on the big screen.


'Serious Man':
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Confounded
Movie schedules and times

Bazaars

Nov. 7:

VNA & Hospice, Community Room, North Adams

North Adams Elks
10-4; Nov. 8, 9-2
Crafters, Chinese auction, bake sale
For vendor information, Melanie at 413-743-5562.

Nov. 14

Berkshire Community Church, Richmond
10-4; Crafters, bake sale. Contact Evelyn Goggia at 413-445-5747

Lanesborough Elementary School annual Fall Craft Fair from 10 to 4. Free admission, huge variety of arts and crafts, raffles, food and more. Proceeds go to sixth-grade trip to Cape Cod.

Vendors can contact Deb at 413-738-5349 or debhutton@aol.com or Lori at 413-499-0065 or lorittod@yahoo.com to secure a spot.

Dec. 12-13

North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Contact Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.

Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.

 Search: 
 for    
Enter a long URL
to make tiny:


Sports

Fall Basketball Clinics

Thursday, Nov. 06

Boys' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
McCann Tech 3, Keefe Tech 2

Girls' Soccer: State Vocational Championship Game
Blackstone Valley 8, McCann Tech 0

Related Stories

 
Printer Friendly Version
   Recommend this story to a friend

Williams Improves Energy Consumption with Solar Power

Justin Saldo
iBerkshires Intern
02:05PM / Thursday, July 10, 2008

The 26.88 kW Library Shelving Facility Solar Modules
WILLIAMSTOWN ― Williams College inaugurated the installation of a solar array Tuesday at the college’s new library shelving facility at 835 Simonds Road.

The new 26.88 kilowatt photovoltaic system consists of 96 4-by-6-foot panels taking up an area of more than 2,000 feet on the new facility’s roof.

"It's a good step forward in Williams' pursuit of alternative energy sources and sustainability” said Stephanie Boyd, director of the Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives. Boyd went on to explain the center's intent to help the college reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to 10 percent below 1990 levels, which represents a 50 percent reduction from the 2006 benchmark.

Boyd said the new array is part of Williams' campaign for greener buildings. Other buildings the college intends to make more environmentally efficient are the Stetson-Sawyer Library, new campus academic complex, and the Weston Field athletic complex that is scheduled for expansion next fall. These buildings will all be LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the U.S. Green Building Council. One feature of these green buildings is that energy use can be monitored in real time and compared to the consumption rates of less eco-friendly buildings.

Shelving Facilities energy monitoring panel


These new panels, in addition to the 7.2 kW array on the college's Science Center, give Williams 34 kW of paneling ,making the college the second-largest user of solar energy in the area ― surpassing the 24 kW array located at Williamstown Elementary School and following behind the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art's 50 kW array.

The 50 kW installation at Mass MoCA.


"The solar modules also help support our local economy," said the installer of the panels, Christopher Kilfoyle of Berkshire Photovoltiac Services. "BPVS uses solar modules made in Massachusetts; we get our solar modules from Billerica and our power inverters from Lawrence."

Some other benefits Kilfoyle mentioned are that the 170-pound modules are tested for extreme weather conditions and only need maintenance every 20 years to keep them at peak performance. The panels also benefit from tax incentives in Massachusetts and are expected to have an infinite lifespan.

The cost of the new installation to Williams was around $260,000, with some of that expense covered by the $92,670 rebate awarded from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative through the Commonwealth Solar program, and is expected to have an annual output of 29,559-kilowatt hours of solar power. The Commonwealth Solar program estimates that the output of this system is equivalent to planting 76 trees a year.

State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, and Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, announced that Williams would receive the Commonwealth Solar grant from the MTC, saying  "This award recognizes the commitment to renewable energy Williams College has demonstrated by incorporating solar power on campus."
Your Comments
Post Comment
does williams college really need the rebate?....it's a great project that will demonstrate the ability to run a good sized building on solar, but does williams really need the rebate to do that?...the city of north adams should be all over this program to help reduce our dependance on and the cost of fossil fuels...
from: ctremon: 07-10-2008



Top Stories...
@theMarket: Back to the Future, Again
REGIONAL - The last two weeks stocks have consolidated, exhibiting greater volatility with the S&P...
Plunkett, Target Team Up for Library Makeover
ADAMS - Recent economic realities have resulted in a decline in fundraising resources, so the...
North Adams Illustrator Has Big Picture in NYC
NORTH ADAMS - Book illustrator Jana Christy's biggest tome to date — the 15-foot high "Dream Big" — was...
Break-ins Shake Up Stamford Residents
VERMONT - Townspeople are demanding better communication after a number of daytime break-ins here...
The Independent Investor: Finally, a Handout for the...
NORTH ADAMS - Granted, a $6,500 tax credit may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things.


iBerkshires.com Text Ads
www.iberkshires.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.iberkshires.com
www.berkshirejobs.com
Advertise on iBerkshires.com



Essentials
Berkshire Nightlife
Berkshire Photos
Berkshire Wallpaper
Class Reunion Page
Columnists
Dannyoart.com
Get Lunch Specials
Home & Garden
Movie Times
Obituaries
Randy Trabold
Weddings

Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter

| Home | A & E | Automotive | Business | Community News | Dining | Lodging & Travel |
| Real Estate | Schools | Sports & Outdoors | Berkshires Weather | Berkshires Map |
Advertise | Recommend This Page | Help
Contact Us | Privacy Policy| User Agreement
Execution Time: 605 ms