Kent Green Energy Ohio Tour

Kent State University Center for Architecture and Environmental Design 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. *Guided building tours start on the hour at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.  Meet for tours at main entrance vestibule (near the 1st-floor cafe), the entrance that faces South Lincoln (Fashion School)
132 S Lincoln Street Kent, Ohio 44242
300 FLASHperks Event!
Visitors, alumni and friends from around the world will tour the 110,191-square-foot contemporary glass-and-brick building, stretching along the Lefton Esplanade from Lincoln Street toward downtown Kent. The center received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum rating by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which will make it one of the largest buildings in Ohio to reach this high standard. Some of the features include a partial green roof to capture and recycle rain water, 131 geothermal wells (each 405-feet deep) to provide an efficient heating and cooling source for the building and glass curtain walls designed to optimize daylight while reducing the need for artificial light. The exterior contains 91,000 custom bricks produced by Ohio’s Belden Brick Co. that brings together colors exemplifying the strong and continuously growing relationship between the university and downtown Kent. The center brings exceptional design to Kent State’s architecture, architectural studies and interior design programs, and unites students and faculty from the College of Architecture and Environmental Design under one roof to serve as an educational model for design excellence. The distinctive building was conceived in 2012, when the university initiated an international competition. After more than a year-long process, internationally renowned New York-based firm WEISS/MANFREDI was named as the lead designer, Richard L. Bowen & Associates as the architect of record and Gilbane Building Co. as the construction manager. The Center for Architecture and Environmental Design opened in fall 2016.
PARKING: Parking is free in the Rockwell Hall R1 parking lot, off S. Lincoln Street at 515 Hilltop Drive. Parking is also available at May Prentice House Parking R-17 lot visitor spots available for use after restricted hours. Visitors can view the Kent State parking map and available spaces and times here: https://www.kent.edu/parking/kent-campus-parking-map. 
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Kent State University Field House Solar Array noon - 2 p.m. 
2227 Summit Street Kent, Ohio 44242 
When the solar array construction was completed by Third Sun Solar in July 2012, the nearly half megawatt (463 kW) system was the largest NE Ohio solar panel system within the 13 Public University System in Ohio, and believed to be the largest rooftop installation of any Ohio university. The 463 kW system made up of 1,716 multi-crystalline silicon panels, occupies almost an acre of the south facing roof. Through July 2019, the system has generated 3,611,698 kWh of clean energy. Enough to power 445 homes for a year and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2,815 tons! Annual production has been reliable and consistent at about 500,000 kWh which offsets the greenhouse gas emissions of about 75 passenger cars every year.

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City of Kent Police Station 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.*
301 S Depeyster Street Kent, OH 44240 
*Guided building tours start on the hour at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m.
The City of Kent Police Station is a $10.4 million dollar 34,000 square foot three-story facility serving the community. Designed by DS Architecture and built by RFC Contracting the police station sits on the corner of S. Depeyster Street and Haymaker overlooking downtown. The facility includes a jail, an administrative wing, an emergency operations center, a dispatch service area, and a training facility that doubles as a community meeting room. The police station received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED building features include: energy efficient operating systems, high recycled content materials, natural daylighting, sustainable landscaping with low and no mow wild grasses, and a detention pond to capture storm water.

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Standing Rock Cultural Arts Center Gallery solar panels and solar battery generator noon - 3 p.m.
300 N. Water St., Suite H Kent, OH 44240
Gallery, Art and Education Cultural Art Center: Standing Rock Cultural Arts is a non profit, 501(c)(3) charitable organization.  Our Mission is To Build Community Through The Arts.  We do that by providing opportunities for Children and the General Public to explore the arts.  We offer artists the opportunity to bring their work to the public at our gallery, 300 N. Water St., in Downtown Kent, Ohio. We invite and welcome sponsors to help cover expenses for our art and educational activities. Donations are tax deductible. Type of Energy System(s): OFF GRID: Solar Panels Battery Systems with Inverter Size of Energy System (kWs): 500 Watts Self-Installed. 

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Kent Cooperative Housing Franklin House with solar panels 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
609 Franklin Ave. Kent, OH 44240
Kent Cooperative Housing’s Franklin house is one of five cooperatively owned houses and provides a home to three Kent residents. Franklin house features a 3,290 kw roof-mounted, grid-tied, residential, solar PV array system installed in 2012 by Appalachian Renewable Power. Our purpose at KCH is to promote social activities and cooperative fellowship by offering shared, low-cost housing to individuals in our community regardless of race, creed, disability, color, national origin, sexual orientation or LGBTQIA identity, thereby influencing the community to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in housing. We also work to provide access to cooperative education and democracy, sustainability, environmental consciousness and energy efficiency, adhering to a culture of inclusion and principles of non-violence. We honor and uphold the International Cooperative Principles, foster effective communication, creativity and an openness to new ideas, as well as provide access to fair labor and ownership opportunities. Kent Cooperative Housing is committed to sustainable living and we invite you to stop by and learn more about our solar array’s benefits to the Franklin House and the larger Kent community! Short term parking is available for free across the street at the Kent Post Office.

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Meltzer Residence with Passive Solar & Other Energy Efficiencies 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
1012 Vine Street., Kent, OH 44240
Newer construction on an existing wooded city lot within walking distance to downtown Kent. Designed by architect Peter Paino (who will be on the site to answer questions) to maximize the site location, existing materials and energy efficiency. The home features include a south-facing sunroom for passive solar energy gain, a garage on the north for protection against the cold, insulated concrete form (ICF) construction, blower-tested sealed doors and windows, an air-to-air heat exchanger, and including both renewable (e.g. bamboo) and local salvaged materials as part of the construction. 
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Ruchotzke Residence with solar panels 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
237 Highland Ave., Kent, OH 44240
Private 1920s home on a 1/8 acre city lot. East-facing roof has 16 panels. West-facing roof has 6 panels. A Fiat 500e charges using a standard 110amp outlet. The back yard has the beginnings of a food forest using permaculture techniques such as hugelkultur, composting, no-till planting and perennial edibles.

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