Photovoltaic Energy
In the summer of 2003, Darrow was awarded $18,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for the installation of photovoltaic solar panels on the School's Samson Environmental Center. Darrow is one of 50 schools in the state, and the only one in Columbia County, to be selected for this award as part of a four-year educational program called School Power...Naturally. Darrow was previously awarded the Good Earth Keeping Award by the Environmental Management Council of Columbia County, NY, and was chosen for inclusion in the U.S. Department of Energy High Performance Schools Video which showcased energy-efficient and environmentally sensitive design solutions. Participation in the School Power ...Naturally program further enhances regional and national recognition for Darrow's leadership in the field of environmental sustainability.
The 50 projects chosen were selected based on criteria that included a statewide geographical distribution mix, involving a mix of urban, suburban, and rural demographics. A large emphasis was placed on the action plan that was submitted by each entrant showing how the school proposed to incorporate the solar energy systems into educational planning and community outreach. Darrow School already hosts hundreds of visitors each year who come to learn more about the School's innovative wastewater treatment plant-the "Living Machine" which uses a natural ecosystem as a model to clean wastewater from school dorms and other campus buildings before returning it to the Hudson River watershed. Darrow's outreach for the solar power system included participation in the 2003 Green Buildings Open House Tour sponsored by the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) on Saturday, October 4, 2003. Soon, the School will partner with science classes from New Lebanon High School for specific projects and data collection.
A solar electric photovoltaic system, or PV system, converts sunlight directly into electricity without pollution. The installation at Darrow is particularly appropriate as it is mounted directly on the Samson Environmental Center which houses the Living Machine. The panels will generate up to 2-kw each day, about half of the energy needed per day by a typical energy-efficient home. The system will be grid-tied, meaning that Darrow could one day "net-meter," or put energy back into the power grid.
"Environmental sustainability is important at Darrow, and the members of our community make conscious choices to be responsible to our environment," says Darrow Curriculum Coordinator and SEC Director Craig Westcott who was instrumental in securing the grant and will oversee the solar energy project for Darrow. "We were discussing alternative ways to generate power when this solar power project was announced. We were honored when NYSERDA recognized our commitment to environmentally friendly practices and approached us to submit a proposal. It seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to pursue a system that would provide a percentage of the power for a building already dedicated to environmental sustainability."
More important is the opportunity the photovoltaic system presents for students to gain first-hand experience with solar energy alternatives. The students will monitor and maintain the system, and, through special on-site software and web-based links to the other 49 schools in the project, will analyze collected data over the next five years. The system also includes a weather instrumentation system which will offer additional data for better understanding energy generated through solar power.
NYSERDA will provide a broad range of curricular materials to help teachers incorporate lessons about solar energy into the students' courses to expand the knowledge of renewable energy alternatives. Subjects include social studies, math, chemistry, and earth science, allowing hands-on learning opportunities in a variety of fields. Westcott serves on the advisory committee for development of this statewide curriculum along with members of the New York Department of Education, representatives from SUNY-Albany and utility companies, and an advisor from NESEA.
The NYSERDA grant covers 90 percent of the cost of the project, with an additional $500 contributed by AMERESCO, an energy services company partnering with NYSERDA. The School's final financial commitment was $1,500 for the system and its installation.
