See green technologies including renewable energy, green building and clean transportation at the Kent Green Energy Ohio Tour on Saturday, Sept. 29, from 12-4 p.m. at multiple locations at Kent State University and throughout the Kent community. This free, open house-style tour is part of the statewide 16th annual Green Energy Ohio Tour.
This free event features four green energy spots on Kent State’s Kent Campus and five off-campus spots in the greater Kent area. These green spots are places that showcase leading clean energy features. Kent State’s Office of Sustainability collaborated with the city of Kent’s Sustainability Commission to highlight the initiatives in the Kent community.
At Kent State, visitors can tour The John Elliot Center for Architecture and Environmental Design, which received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Participants can learn about Kent State’s solar panel installation at the Kent State Field House near Dix Stadium, which produces enough energy to power 353 homes for a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,596 tons.
Another stop on the tour is the Kent Clean Transportation Cruise-in, which will feature electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, including the College of Aeronautics and Technology’s zero-emission vehicle which runs on solar power. The cruise-in will be located in the parking lot at the southeast corner of East Main and South Willow streets (near Starbucks).
This year’s event also features a bike tour of various green sites in the area. Cyclists can do a self-guided tour or join a guided ride. Site locations, available times and maps can be found on the Green Energy Ohio Tour’s website.
Green Energy Ohio is a nonprofit organization “dedicated to promoting economically and environmentally sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio.” Melanie Knowles, Kent State’s sustainability manager, is excited to be a part of this bigger, state-wide tour.
“We are eager to share with the community how energy efficiency, renewable energy and more sustainable transportation have been thoughtfully implemented locally,” Ms. Knowles says. “Visitors to the sites and cruise-in may find examples that they could use themselves.”
For Kent Green Energy Ohio Tour information and guided bike tour registration, visit www.kent.edu/sustainability/event/kent-green-energy-ohio-tour-saturday-september-29. View Kent as well as statewide Green Energy Ohio Tour sites at www.greenenergyoh.org/2018-green-energy-ohio-tour or contact Leah Graham at lgraha13@kent.edu or 330-672-8023 for additional information.