Solar power fuels Arts First stage

Harvard environmentalists made sure Arts First was clean behind the scenes Saturday (May 8) by powering the Arts First stage for the event’s kickoff performances entirely with solar power.

The demonstration involved a vehicle equipped with 256 square feet of solar panels that produces enough energy – complete with battery backup for cloudy days – to power the average American home.

“We’re trying to raise awareness about clean energy,” said Bryan Ho ’06, coordinator of the demonstration and Adams House Resource Efficiency Program (REP) representative.

Ho said he believes society is at a turning point with regard to energy sources and the REP program is trying to spark interest in developing more affordable solar energy and other alternative fuels.

“The climate is changing and we need to start taking action now,” Ho said. “We’re trying to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Whatever we can do to cut that down is good.”

The truck, dubbed “Rolling Sunlight,” was provided by Greenpeace’s Clean Enersgy NOW Initiative, which created it as a demonstration of the feasibility of alternative energy as a way to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. The vehicle is touring the East Coast, with stops earlier this month at Wesleyan and the University of Rhode Island and later this month at Bowdoin College and the University of Maine at Farmington. The visit was co-sponsored by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ Resource Efficiency Program, Arts First, and Clean Energy Now.