Featured Case Studies:
Hello Sunshine: Cali Calmecac Students and Faculty Harness “The Power of the Sun”
What generates 4,135 kilowatt hours of electricity, saves more than $6,000 and looks like something out of a science fiction novel: photovoltaic panels at Cali Calmecac Charter school in Windsor, Calif.—that’s what. After receiving a $25,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Windsor, and a $10,000 grant from British Petroleum, Cali Calmecac invested money into purchasing and installing solar panels, library material, and even a solar powered water fountain—all aimed at teaching students about saving energy. Since the panels’ installation in March of 2005, they have generated a combined 4,135 kilowatt hours of electricity—enough solar energy to power 82 suburban homes for one day (fatspaniel.net).
The solar panels are doing more than just saving energy (and money for that matter—an estimated $6,000 dollars!). They are inspiring teachers to make the brave leap into the world of energy education. Science and Language arts teacher Rodolfo Truno used the systems installation to spark an interest in energy education for his 7th and 8th grade classrooms. Truno went well beyond the call of his traditional teaching duties, making efforts to incorporate energy lessons in astronomy, chemistry, math and even Language Arts. Shannon Johnson, the school’s garden and ecology coordinator, joined forces with the Truno in spreading the message of energy conservation around campus. The duo plans to put an end to excessive summer air conditioning use and have the lights turned off in a brightly lit soda machine, which currently consumes around $800 a year.
In addition to being an innovator in renewable school energy, Cali Calmeac has been utilizing various other energy teaching tools such as a hand-powered flashlight, which must be squeezed repetitively in order to stay lit as a teaching resource, and a power generator that channels energy created by a person on a stationary bike. So whether it’s in the classroom, on a bike, or from the sun, one thing is for certain; Cali Calmecac Charter is most certainly working hard to create a “brighter” tomorrow.
And the Winner is…Energy Efficiency!!
For all those families that have talked about “greening” their homes, but are hesitant due to the high initial costs, the students at McKinleyville High in McKinleyville, Calif., have crafted a wonderful solution to their dilemma. In an effort to integrate green building and energy efficient practices with residential construction, and demonstrate the financial payoffs of energy efficiency upgrades, the students have begun planning for a home energy retrofit lottery. The contest calls for families of students to submit applications, where the winner will not only have their home audited and their energy bill reviewed, but will receive a plethora of energy efficiency upgrades, as well as the Energy Detective, a whole house energy monitoring system that displays energy consumption in cost in real time.
The students want the winner to be a family who displays a commitment to energy efficiency/conservation, and who will permit an energy bill review and a home energy audit. A local joint powers authority, The Redwood Cost Energy Authority (RCEA) has set this project in motion, donating a box of CFL’s and a hot water heater to the students. Enthused by RCEA’s contributions, the Green Schools team has begun soliciting donations from local appliance stores for ENERGY STAR® appliances. The students have also organized a plan to facilitate the regional utilities provider Pacific Gas and Electric’s home weatherization energy assistance program, pending whether or not the selected family is income qualified.
