Sunlight Converted into Approx. 20% of Energy Needs

Located at the Duke University Marine Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina, the 5,600 sq ft. Marguerite Kent Re-pass Ocean Conservation Center (OCC) is a great example of merging the built structure with the site. Built in 2006, it uses geothermal pumps for heating and cooling, solar panels for hot water, and photovoltaic rooftop panels to convert sunlight into electricity. Local building materials, such as yellow southern pine and Atlantic white cedar and recycled wood, are used throughout the structure. The OCC uses photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight for approximately 20% of the energy needs of the building, and passive solar for heating the water used in the building.