Schools go Solar

Following an initiative in North Carolina, schools all across the country and starting to look to solar energy as alternative power. Installing solar panels in schools can be a great way to generate electricity, set an example, and help kids learn about how things work.

Installing solar panels in schools is something which kids can be involved with directly. Local electricians and solar power companies can work with schools on educational projects and can get the older kids involved directly in the process of installation. This gives the kids the chance to become familiar with the technologies involved and to ask questions of people who really know what they’re talking about. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn about the way that principles they’ve been taught in physics classes fit into the real world. Kids often find science easier to understand when they can see its practical applications, and helping with a project like this is an experience they won’t forget in a hurry.

Solar panels in schools provide a useful long term, low maintenance resource which can really come in handy when budgets are tight. Taking advantage of large roofs and outdoor areas, it’s possible to set up extensive arrays which will provide sufficient power to light whole buildings. When kids see directly what solar energy can do, they’ll have a much better understanding of why it’s important. Installing solar panels not only helps with teaching about physics, it can also be a good trigger for discussions about the environment, overlapping with information learned in biology and chemistry classes. Kids can also improve their debating skills by discussing the importance of solar energy as alternative power, and they can follow the school’s example in considering how they might incorporate it into their own lives.

With market trends increasingly indicating that the future is solar, it’s time our future citizens understood what that means, and schools are leading the way forward. Talk to your local school authority to see if it can do the same.


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Post added on on Thursday, November 8th, 2007 at 8:51 am and is filed in Solar Information .
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