It’s great to see NIU taking a step forward with new energy sources and technology.

With so much talk recently about how the budget of our beloved academic institution has fallen into the proverbial gutter, it’s a welcomed site to see a huge stride taken toward energy efficiency.

The solar panels on the roof of Still Hall exemplify this stride.

Not only will construction, operation and use of these panels point NIU in a positive direction, but it will also get NIU more notoriety as a school willing to take great strides and risks for the sake of energy conservation and technological exploration.

The best thing about these solar panels is, in our time of budget crisis, we did not pay for them. The full project, including installation and original purchase, cost about $15,000 and was funded by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Columbus, Ohio, as stated in Wednesday’s issue of the Northern Star.

In a time where funds are running low, $15,000 is a great sum of money, even for a state funded university, and enormous thanks should go to those who funded the project.

Though this construction cost isn’t taken from our piggy bank, it is still a risk and major step for our university to place the large panels on campus.

The administration, and those making these steps, should also be commended for bringing such a fuel-efficient and technologically forward-thinking project to NIU.

In an all-else-fails scenario, this project shows NIU is truly looking into the future and is honestly willing to take responsible risks, if nothing else.

This illustrates there is something being done to try and aid in these budget issues.

Moves have been made for more than a year regarding paper conservation and energy efficiency, such as turning off lights and closing down buildings when space isn’t used. This move shows things will continue to be done and NIU is willing to strongly push forward.

NIU stands to be looked upon by outside academic institutions as a leader in technologically advanced practices.

Granted, we cannot fuel the entire campus on solar power, but the strides taken show NIU is looking to the future and is ready to move ahead to promote renewable resources.

Leaders at NIU and partners who contributed to fund the panels should be commended for their efforts to aid in our budget crisis here, and looming fuel crisis everywhere.

Agree? Disagree? Contact us at:

www.northernstar.info.