The Solar Blitz fundraising campaign for solar panels on campus raised more than $1,000, student leaders said.
The campaign raised a total of $1,128 from the combined efforts of residence halls and fraternities and sororities, said ASUA Sen. Rhonda Tubbs.
Solar Blitz, which wrapped up Nov. 23, consisted of two separate competitions between the residence halls and Greek Life. Eight fraternities and sororities were teamed together in four groups.
The winning residence hall was Kiabab-Huachuca, and the winning Greek Life teams were Kappa Alpha and Delta Delta Delta, Tubbs said.
The winners of the competition should have their names displayed on a plaque in the UA Visitor Center, 811 N. Euclid Ave., which will be the first building to receive solar panels.
A club oriented version of the competition was planned but was pushed back until early next semester, Tubbs said.
The money raised exceeded the goal of $500, Tubbs said.
"Our expectations weren't to raise money," Tubbs said. "Our expectations were to raise awareness."
The project is expected to cost $15,000, well below the original estimate of $150,000. Tubbs said the drop in price is because the campaign found a company that would install the panels for a lower fee.
"It was a win-win situation for everybody," Tubbs said. "That will pay itself back so quickly."
Under the $150,000 estimate, the solar panels will need to be on the Visitor Center for seven to 10 years to pay for themselves, Tubbs said.
While most of the technical legwork for installing panels for the Visitor Center is finished, getting solar panels on other campus buildings is a matter of resources, said Al Tarcola, Facilities Management director.
"All it takes is time and money," Tarcola said.
Kaibab-Huachuca, one of the six residence halls competing in Solar Blitz, raised the bulk of their money through an interwing fundraiser.
The hall used a penny-war competition to raise money, said Peter Pereira, Kaibab-Huachuca hall director.
Each of the 16 wings in the dorm hoped to collect the most pennies while sabotaging other wings' collections with nickels and dimes. The leading wing will receive a pizza party, Pereira said.
Pereira said the dorm raised $150.