On Tuesday, June 19, 2018 the project began with the support structure.   By the end of the week the solar panels were being installed.  It was finished on August 9 when PG&E made the changeover.  The system had to sit idle for several weeks while PG&E scheduled their field inspection.  Finally it was hooked up to the grid on August 20.

The system should serve the chapter house for thirty years.  The  135 panels  will produce a maximum of 42 kilowatts per hour, and provide some covered parking and patio shading.  It was designed to produce enough electrical energy to save 97% of the $17,700 electrical cost per year.  Factoring in electrical cost rises during the thirty years, the House Corporation will have a cash flow that is five times the installed cost.  This will provide the House Corporation funds for amenities and maintenance that will help give the undergraduate brothers the best possible fraternity experience.  The solar system was donated by Fresno Sigma Chi alumni.

The Sigma Chi chapter house at Fresno State is the first “Sig House” in North America to have a solar installation that is sized to offset most of its energy costs.  It  is the only one out of 244 chapters.  But there is more!  The Sigma Chi Foundation has told us that ours is “the first Greek-letter campus housing to have solar efficient energy.”  If you add up all of the fraternities and sororities in North America, this is a feat for which Epsilon Eta should be proud.