Sleepy Case Western Reserve University students on their way to or from finals last semester may have gotten a surprising visual wake up call: a 156-foot-tall wind turbine that sprang up near the Veale Athletic Center in late November. The 100-kilowatt unit is being used for alternative energy research and will supply about 19 percent of the power used annually by the athletic center.

David Matthieson, an engineering professor at Case, is credited with the idea of creating a wind turbine on campus. His thought was to use "a wind turbine as a research instrument to allow companies to demonstrate their products." Companies that helped with funding of the project, including Cleveland Electric Labs, will have the opportunity to use the wind turbine to further their own research.

Case plans three more wind turbines as part of its analysis on creating wind energy in an urban environment. But the intent goes beyond research. The university has undertaken a number of issues to reduce its carbon footprint and bring awareness to faculty and students about the need for being eco-friendly. Solar-powered trash compactors are another initiative recently established on campus.

SOURCE: David Matthieson
WRITER: Diane DiPiero