A new club on campus is working independently to collect student support to make the UA more environmentally savvy and cost-efficient.
The Energy Conservation and Lifestyles Initiative Partnering Students and their Environment is a nonprofit group comprised of 15 students who are working toward the goal of conserving natural resources on campus.
The club is proposing a two-semester fee of $1 per student each semester, with students voting for whether they want the fee.
Before Eclipse can get their proposition onto the Associated Students of the University of Arizona ballot this spring, the group must have signatures from 10 percent of the UA student population who support their claim by March 1.
Members have been collecting signatures from students by sending around their petitions in large lecture halls and soliciting signatures during the lunch rush, said Nicole Sanderson, president of Eclipse.
"We are trying to introduce sustainable technologies to the university," Sanderson said. "A contribution of $2 from every student is all we need to power one building with solar energy."
Last year, the university spent $1.5 million on electricity, according to public records.
Eclipse plans to use the fee money to buy solar panels to power one of the larger buildings on campus with solar energy. If passed, administrators from the university will decide which building would run best with solar energy.
However, the group needs the proposition to pass in ASUA before they speak to the administration. They also want the support of ASUA when they present their idea to administration.
ASUA President Alistair Chapman will meet with the group today.
"I am typically very cautious about the groups we choose to support," Chapman said. "But I am interested in what they have to say."
Sanderson said solar energy not only has the potential to save university money but will also improve the environment.
"I would hope that there are enough UA students who are environmentally conscience and would go along with this plan," said Liz Gallegos, a theatre sophomore.
The club plans to donate the solar panels to the university and hopes that in return, the university will give the group a percentage of the money they save, Sanderson said.
If the university agrees, Sanderson said Eclipse plans to buy more solar panels until every building at the UA is supplied with a source of sustainable energy.
"This is a wonderful project that the students have an opportunity to contribute to," said Leona Davis, treasurer of Eclipse. "This has the potential of putting the university on the forefront of renewable technology."
However, some students think the university may not be ready for implementing new technology.
"I think they have a long road ahead of them," said Janelle Drumwright, a journalism sophomore. "Even though the benefits of solar energy are substantial, it's going to be hard to get college students interested enough to back this plan."
The solar panels work by using photovoltaic conversion, a method of converting solar energy into electrical energy. The panels will be part of a grid tie system, which means extra energy can be stored for cloudy days.
"The University of Arizona is a great candidate for solar energy because there are so many sunny days," said Davis.
Students who want to support Eclipse can sign the petition electronically by visiting www.eclipseovertucson.com.