The University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia is setting a shining example of how the power of sunlight can be used to keep buildings cool. Recently, the Queensland university invested in a giant water battery that stands three-stories high.
The giant battery harnesses power from over 6,000 solar panels that line the rooftops of the campus’s buildings. It then uses that power to cool water, which is then used in the school’s air conditioning system. The battery is expected to save $100 million in electricity costs over the next 25 years and to prevent 100,000 tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
It’s also hoped the water battery will help the school reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025.
