1995 CLASS GIFT TO HELP U.VA. BECOME MODEL
OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Nov. 16 -- The trustees of the
University of Virginia's Class of 1995 are pledging a $150,000 gift
to help U.Va. assume a leadership role in teaching, researching and
promoting efforts that protect and restore the environment.
	Jennifer L. Young, Class of 1995 President, said the gift
will go toward construction of a Solar Energy Resource Center at the
Architecture School and will help fund fellowships to allow students
of all disciplines to investigate and promote development that
sustains the environment.
	As part of the Solar Energy Resource Center, an array of
photovoltaic cells will be constructed atop the south-facing sloped
roof of Campbell Hall, which houses the Architecture School.  The
center will demonstrate how photovoltaic cells can generate
electricity directly from the sun to power University facilities. 
	Made from silicon, the cells have no moving parts and
produce no pollution, noise, smoke or radiation.  They are expected
to generate electricity an average of four-to-six hours a day
throughout the year.  The energy will be used directly or sold to
the electric utility.
	The fellowships will allow students to investigate and
promote the use of photovoltaic cells as an efficient, renewable
energy source as well as play a role in other research in
sustainable development at the University.
	"The class gift will create a working model of sustainable
design principles and will help implement a project that will have
lasting future benefit for the University," said Architecture School
Dean William A. McDonough.
	Faculty from a variety of schools and student fellows will
form a committee dedicated to research in sustainable development.
The committee will investigate issues relating to design,
technology, economics and public service.  It will also coordinate
the design and installation of the photovoltaic cells, record their
energy productivity, write reports about their economic and
environmental impact, and decide on future development of the
project.
	The interdisciplinary research approach on sustainable
energy design is one of McDonough's goals as the new architecture
dean.  He has announced plans to make the school a "net energy
exporter" and physical model for environmental responsibility by
incorporating solar energy systems and other innovations into a new
10,000 square foot office wing.  He defines sustainable design as
those actions that are restorative rather than ultimately
destructive.
	The annual savings in energy bills attributed to the solar
cell installation will be given to the sustainable design program in
the form of new fellowships, publications or equipment, McDonough
said in his proposal to the class trustees.  
	"The class gift helps to provide a vehicle for the
University of Virginia to take a significant step forward in
teaching, research and policy within the United States," McDonough
said.
	"I would like to commend the [44] class trustees for
deciding on a socially responsible gift.  It will allow all students
and faculty to gain a working knowledge of photovoltaics and their
application to solving the nation's energy problems." Young said.
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November 16, 1994