A delegation from the Universidad Nacional de San Agustín (UNSA) in Arequipa, Peru, visited Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus in October to prepare for the third phase of a major multidisciplinary research partnership. Purdue Polytechnic’s Daniel Leon-Salas, who served as one of the delegation’s hosts, is developing a low-cost, portable sensor to measure photosynthetically active solar radiation to help farmers and plant growers to assess the solar resources available to them.

A state-of-the-art solar array used primarily for learning and research has been installed on Knoy Hall’s rooftop. The new 28-panel array replaces a 24-panel system installed 17 years ago. The new solar photovoltaic array, comprised of panels each roughly the same physical size as those previously installed, will generate nearly three times more electricity than the old array despite expanding by only four panels.

Achieving lower energy consumption goals in high performance buildings will be possible only when the people who use those buildings have high energy literacy, says Bill Hutzel, professor of mechanical engineering technology. The work he and his students are doing in the Applied Energy Laboratory can help.