Article Contributed on: 5/13/2009 11:54:27 AM
Two BVSD school buildings will get free 10kW photovoltaic (PV) systems installed as part of a pilot grant program called "ReNew Our Schools" begun this year by the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC). CRC notified administrators at each of the winning schools last week and an announcement was made to the Boulder Valley Board of Education in tonight's meeting.
"BCSIS and High Peaks are jointly honored to be selected for this grant," said
Rosemary Lohndorf, principal of High Peaks, and Phil Katsampes, principal of BCSIS. "Our new construction uniquely situates us in a position for the installation of the solar panels and the learning that goes along with them."
The Arapahoe Campus high school at 6800 East Arapahoe will get one system and the second system will be installed on the facility that is shared by BCSIS and High Peaks elementary schools at 3995 East Aurora. The systems will be installed over the summer or in the early fall.
"Arapahoe Campus is working to involve all the curricular areas to incorporate the solar panel system," said Joan Bludorn, principal of Arapahoe Campus. "We are so excited about the possibilities it brings to our campus."
The equipment and installation for these new solar systems will be provided free of charge by the CRC due to donation from a Boulder-based family foundation. The donation also includes a solar monitoring system that will provide the school with system performance, solar electricity production, and CO2 reduction. Current monitoring and solar educational material will inform the school community how solar electricity works and its benefits.
"BVSD is grateful to the Center for ReSource Conservation for their generous grants to help our schools become more energy independent," said Dr.
Ghita Carroll, Sustainability Coordinator for BVSD. "The ReNew Our Schools program is a great opportunity for our students to learn firsthand about the importance of renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency. We hope this will be a program and partnership that continues."
Of the 35 schools in BVSD that were eligible for this grant, 22 applied by the March 9 deadline. Six were selected as finalists who were all interviewed before the final grant awardees were chosen. Dr. Carroll, who worked with representatives of the Center for ReSource Conservation to select which schools would receive the grants, said all the applications were great - "It was a hard decision."
The ReNew Our Schools program has three primary objectives:
* provide local school facilities with solar PV equipment to lower the schools' operating costs and environmental impacts;
* establish interactive school and community-based conservation projects around energy efficiency and renewable energy; and
* create long-term learning opportunities for teachers and students.
Each participating school is creating an action plan that includes a curriculum, presentation, and community-based project related to their new solar systems.
Katsampes and Lohndorf said, "We plan to get the whole school community - students, teachers and parents- involved in the solar panel project. We will use this opportunity to teach and learn about electricity, solar power, conservation, sustainability, and the sun. It will be an exciting addition to our school."
For questions about ReNew Our Schools, email education@conservationcenter.org<mailto:education@conservationcenter.org> .
About Sustainability Efforts at BVSD
BVSD is currently developing a Sustainability Management System (SMS), along with many other "greenBVSD" initiatives launched in the past year. The SMS process will develop short and long-term visions and goals around sustainability and create strategies for meeting these goals. For more information about BVSD's green initiatives, please visit the new website at http://bvsd.org/green/Pages/default.aspx or contact Ghita.Carroll@bvsd.org<mailto:Ghita.Carroll@bvsd.org>.
About the Center for ReSource Conservation
Founded in 1976, the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) is a Boulder-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization which empowers our community to conserve natural resources. Each year, the CRC empowers more than 7,500 individuals to live a more sustainable life through educational programs and services designed to help members of our community conserve water and energy and minimize waste. www.ConservationCenter.org<http://www.conservationcenter.org/>