Two Boulder Valley Schools “Flip the Switch” to Generate Electricity from CRC Donated Solar Arrays

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The Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) will celebrate its “ReNew Our Schools” pilot program with partner Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) at a “Flip the Switch” event 9:15-10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 21 Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies (BCSIS) / High Peaks, 3995 East Aurora, Boulder

A “Flip the Switch” event is being held to acknowledge the schools’ new solar systems with brief speeches and tours. The public is invited to attend a “Flip the Switch” event at Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies at 9:15 a.m., and will also have an opportunity to view the solar panel system at the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) following the morning event. Learn first-hand about renewable energy and how the schools are incorporating energy lessons into the curriculum.

In the CRC’s ReNew Our Schools mission to educate the community about renewable energy, the pilot program awarded a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) solar system, along with eGauge Systems energy monitoring solution, to two BVSD schools - Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies (BCSIS)/ High Peaks and the BVSD Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC). The students at CTEC gathered together for an all-school assembly last month in which they learned about the grant and the school’s new solar system.

Local solar installation contractors bid on the opportunity to serve these schools with activated PV solar systems. Simple Solar was responsible for BCSIS/High Peak’s solar array, and Standard Renewable Energy (SRE) installed the solar system at CTEC. The companies were selected based on their pricing, long-term maintenance, dedication to public outreach efforts, and assistance with energy education initiatives. The systems were installed before the 2009/2010 school year and became operational in November. Representatives from the local solar companies will be available at the event to answer any questions about the installation and monitoring systems.

Both schools received these operational solar arrays free of charge, thanks to a charitable donation from a Boulder-based family foundation which was administered through the CRC.

In addition, each school received a donated solar monitoring system from eGauge, enabling more in-depth education through real-time data that demonstrate the system’s performance, solar electricity production, and CO2 reduction.

The ReNew Our Schools program has four primary objectives:

1. Provide local school facilities with solar PV equipment to lower the schools’ operating costs and environmental impacts.

2. Establish a model for community-based conservation projects around energy efficiency and renewable energy.

3. Create long-term learning opportunities for teachers and students with new, creative, interactive curriculum.

4. Develop educational materials (on how solar electricity works and benefits from clean, renewable energy) for distribution in the community.

“BVSD is grateful to the Center for ReSource Conservation for their generous grants to help our schools become more energy efficient,” said Dr. Ghita Carroll, Sustainability Coordinator for BVSD.

“We hope this will be a program that continues year after year.” Phil Katsampes and Rosemary Lohndorf, principals of BCSIS and High Peaks, said, “We plan to get the whole school community - students, teachers and parents - involved in the solar project. We will use this opportunity to learn about electricity, solar power, conservation, sustainability, and the sun. This engaging education will be a strong addition to our school programs.”

“We are working to bring the PV system into all of our classrooms through new lesson plans,” said Joan Bludorn, principal of CTEC. “We are so excited about the possibilities it brings to our campus.”

To learn more about the ReNew Our Schools program, visit us at: http://www.conservationcenter.org/e_renew-our-schools-solar-pv-program.html or call Debbie Fox at 303-999-3820 x 213.