Nashville, Tenn. - When the sun shines on the rooftop at Vanderbilts Brownlee O. Currey Jr. Tennis Center, it means a little more to Marie Casares.Casares, a former member of the Commodores womens tennis program (2011-15), played a role in pushing Vanderbilt athletics to the forefront of sustainable energy on campus. Two years ago, she proposed the installation of solar panels atop the Currey Tennis Center, where she once starred as a Commodore student-athlete. The panels have greatly reduced the buildings energy consumption, and they could be the precursor to a renewable energy movement across Vanderbilts campus.For Casares, the sun-soaked panels atop the Currey Center represent her energy-friendly way of giving back. Now she hopes the project will serve as a catalyst for a sea of change at Vanderbilt, and beyond. There are so many resources we could use to make energy clean and make everything renewable, Casares said. Thats a change we should start making.The project began in the fall of 2014 with the help of Vanderbilts Green Fund program. The Green Fund is money set aside by VU Facilities and Dean of Students office to address student-initiated energy conservation projects. Students propose projects with environmental and economic benefits to a student-led committee that works closely with Vanderbilts Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and the Campus Energy Manager. The group determines which projects receive funding and then manages their subsequent installation. Engineering students like Casares are particularly encouraged to craft proposals.In cultivating an idea, Casares neednt look far for inspiration. Her father, Esteban, is an electric engineer in the familys native Ecuador, and he runs a 4,320-panel solar plant in Maries hometown of Quito. In a sense, solar energy runs in Casares family. That was music to the ears of Geoff Macdonald, the longtime Vanderbilt tennis coach and a proponent of solar technology. So Macdonald and Casares put their heads together and came up with a way to impact the Commodores tennis facility.By the fall of 2014, Casares had already become a decorated student-athlete at Vanderbilt. As a junior during the 2013-14 season, she set school records in single match wins (32) and combined wins (60). Casares would go on to deliver the point that clinched Vanderbilts most recent SEC championship in April 2015. That year she helped carry the Commodores to the programs first NCAA title, after which Casares earned All-Tournament honors. Her love for tennis dated back to childhood, and it made it easier for her to pinpoint a Green Fund proposal. I had to provide an idea of where the project would be and what it would do, Casares said. So since its something close to my heart, I proposed the tennis center.A determined Casares wrote and submitted a two-page proposal for the Green Fund in Dec. 2014. She called for the installation of solar panels that could both generate electricity and help heat the buildings water. Casares estimated that the project would pay for itself in five-to-seven years. Marie did a phenomenal proposal, Macdonald said. It was scientific, it was researched, it described how much money it would save. It was just amazing.The solar project would be the first of its kind at Vanderbilt, and Casares noted the importance of its promotion at an athletic facility. That angle could help garner publicity and spark a bigger conversation about renewable energy on campus. Even if a small project like this one, one of the smallest of the proposed projects, gets built, it can spark a fire of good, sustainable and renewable energy alternatives here at Vanderbilt, Casares wrote.It wasnt long before Casares received good news: the Green Fund Working Group, comprised of six administrators, six students and a faculty member, approved the approximately $80,000 funding needed for the project. Crews installed the first panels on the Currey Center roof in the fall of 2015 and the second set this fall. In all, 67 Solar Laminate PVL panels and four SunMaxx Thermopower panels were placed on the roof. According to Macdonald, the panels are built to last 25 years, and the early returns suggest a wise investment: in its first three months, the system cut natural gas consumption at the Currey Center by 40 percent.Those benefits have shown just how impactful similar projects could be across campus. Look at the McGugin Center, Macdonald said. Look at Memorial Gymnasium. Theres so much roof space here. Itd be wonderful if we could somehow get more solar energy at Vanderbilt.Campus energy experts agree. Michael P. Vandenbergh, the David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law at Vanderbilt Law School, is a leading scholar in environmental and energy law and the director of the universitys Climate Change Research Network. Vandenbergh said its important for people to witness the true power of solar energy, which is why the Currey Center project has the potential to spark change.People need to see evidence of progress in order to want to invest time and energy in other projects, Vandenbergh said. Solar power has come to represent a very forward-looking way of thinking about the future. Its something thats very attractive to potential applicants at Vanderbilt, and even faculty and staff. It gives us a chance to envision a kind of campus that we can be proud of.Now a civil engineer in her native Ecuador, Casares has already recognized the impact of the tennis center project back in the states. Last month, a sophomore in Vanderbilts engineering program emailed Casares to inquire about her experience with the Green Fund. That student, too, hopes to spearhead a similar project, one that could likewise illustrate the untapped potential of renewable energy at Vanderbilt.That impact brings a sense of pride to Casares. Two years ago, a Vanderbilt tennis player simply wanted to make a difference. Soon, that difference might be felt all across campus.For me, it came from a place of caring -- caring about the world, about Vanderbilt, about a certain place in the tennis center, Casares said. I think its very powerful. I can already see the change. Huston Street Jersey .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Cam Bedrosian Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.angelsteamshop.com/Angels-Rod-Carew-Kids-Jersey/ . After a replay, the winner will meet Sunderland in the quarterfinals. Sagbo did well to control Sone Alukos right cross and fire past Brighton goalkeeper Peter Brezovan. Aluko was making his first start in four months after recovering from an Achilles injury. Albert Pujols Jersey . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Blake Parker Jersey . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday.John Souttar believes he can get his career back on track after completing a Deadline Day move to Hearts from Dundee United. The Scotland U21 international arrived at Tynecastle for an undisclosed fee after a move to take Osman Sow to Chinese football gave the Edinburgh side extra transfer funds to spend.Souttar made 21 of his 73 appearances for United this season after breaking into their team at the age of just 16 in 2013. But having been involved in a relegation fight which the Tannadice side are currently losing, he is happy to go in a different direction with his new side.Souttar, who has signed a three and a half-year told Hearts News: Im delighted to have signed. I think Im joining a brilliant club at a great time.There are so many exciting things happening at this club and Robbie Neilson is a coach who likes to give young players like myself their chance. Souttar swaps Dundee Uniteds relegation fight for chasing a European place with Hearts Im really looking forward to getting stuck in and getting my career back on track. I would like to say thank you to all the fans and the people at Dundee Uniited for their support over the years and who gave me the chance to play football.ddddddddddddHearts head coach Neilson added: Im really happy to get John here to Hearts. Hes a player who weve admired for a long time and Im delighted to secure him. Robbie Neilson believes Hearts recruitment of Souttar reflects their commitment to developing young players We see John as one of the brightest prospects in Scotland and one who we can develop further.It shows the intent of Hearts to not only develop young players from our own academy but recruit them too and continue their development.Souttar will be available to make his Hearts debut in Sundays Scottish Cup fifth round tie against Edinburgh rivals Hibernian at Tynecastle this Sunday, live on Sky Sports.Meanwhile, midfielder Danny Swanson has joined Premiership rivals St Johnstone on an 18-month deal after leaving Hearts by mutual consent on Monday. Also See: Transfer Centre Latest transfer news Transfer betting Paper Talk Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '