Mantooth and Mueller in front of the solar arrays at L’Oreal.
When Kay Mueller, BSChE ‘99, environmental manager at L’Oreal in North Little Rock, wanted to help reduce her company’s carbon footprint by installing solar panels, she turned to her alma mater for advice. U of A engineering professors Alan Mantooth, Roy McCann and William Springer provided L’Oreal with designs for an solar array, and helped the company adapt them. Kay explained that having the university as a resource meant she could take on this ambitious project without needing to have all the answers herself. “I called them a lot to ask questions,” she said.
In November, Governor Mike Beebe and North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays helped cut the ribbon on the plant’s new solar arrays. They are expected to produce about 20,000 kilowatt hours per year, and they represent a first step in exploring alternative energy sources for the facility. Kay explained that the culture of innovation at L’Oreal encourages employees to come up with creative ideas like this one, and makes the company a rewarding place to work.