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Solar for School: Rewarding Innovation

Combining technology with teacher training and student engagement

Solor For Schools Ribbon Cutting

With almost 900 public schools and 492,000 students, the state of Utah found a way to promote rigorous academics while staying within budget.

A federal program is helping Utah by providing a statewide curriculum on energy efficiency and renewable energy, while funding solar demonstration projects at select schools. Johnson Controls is coordinating implementation of all elements.

Ensuring Utah’s future energy success and rewarding innovation are the program’s primary goals. In 2010, Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced his 10-year energy initiative. Solar for Schools is an innovative program that is helping ensure success.

When the Utah State Energy Program received funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to install and promote renewable energy, it issued a request for proposals from qualified contractors. Johnson Controls (local Salt Lake City office) was selected to oversee the design and installation of a statewide energy education and technology initiative with four components:

Photovoltaic Solar Panels

State of the Art Technology
The program funded 73 five kilowatt high-efficiency, mono-crystalline silicon solar modules, along with an inverter with built-in disconnects, mounting rack, specification sheets, and full warranties.

Teaming with qualified local contractors, Johnson Controls provided training in renewable energy and created green collar jobs for workers to install the panels and help school facility staff ensure performance.

Training Teachers in Common Core
Through a Johnson Controls partnership with the National Energy Foundation (NEF), K-12 teachers in each district can receive a full day of hands-on training with teaching tools, experiments, and small solar panels. The training offers opportunities to learn about renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to find out how those lessons meet state standards when integrated with science, technology, social studies, math, and language arts courses.

Web-based Reporting
The solar panel is connected to a monitoring system so students can track live data from the solar installations, and measure the effects of temperature and location on the energy output. Additionally, they can go online to a unique website and compare the data with schools throughout the state.

Engaging Students in the Classroom
To engage students, a statewide slogan contest, invites them to suggest catchy themes that promote wind, solar, or other renewable energy, with teachers and NEF selecting winners.

A dedicated website shows the students how to monitor and record their school’s PV system data and compare it with other school panels throughout North America. Students love the hands-on experience, as it enhances their ability to comprehend renewable energy.

Solar for Schools is a model program, benefiting more students and teachers. It impacts the local community, creating a well-trained and educated work force, while helping the environment. In Utah, the total statewide installation is expected to remove more than 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over 20 years.

Watch:
State of Utah – Solar for Schools 

Read:
New Program Brings Solar Panels, and Education to Schools
Solar for Schools featured in eSchool News

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NEW! 22nd Annual 
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June 15-16, 2011
Washington, D.C.

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