Tracking Photovoltaic Panels
The solar electric, or photovoltaic, panels on the building's roof turn sunlight into electricity for use inside the building. There are two large PV panels at the west end of the building. They use tracking mechanisms to keep the panels pointed at the sun. Small electric motors turn the panels every few minutes (when you stand near them you can see and hear them turn). By tracking the sun, these PV panels (also called arrays) collect about 30–40 percent more energy than they would if they were stationary. The tracking mechanisms are turned off at night because they are so sensitive they would track the moon.
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