Past Feature Story Links

• FPS Students Participate in Sustainability Camp
• Owl Creek Garden Project Grows
• Principal Steve Jacoby Updates the School Board on Status of SLCs at FHS
• FPS Food & Nutrition Service takes the Jamie Oliver "Food Revolution" Audit
• Service Learning Students Teach about Recycling
• Two Schools Recognized as Certified Schoolyard Habitats
• FHS Students Honor MLK with Day of Service
• FHS Green Team Tours Fayetteville Public Library
• Game Day at Bud Walton Arena
• FPS Wellness and Education Clinic at Owl Creek
• Bicycle Education in Fayetteville Schools
• Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolence Summit
• Senator Lincoln Visits Washington Elementary for Farm to School Program Presentation
• Child Nutrition Director Adam Simmons
• Census 2010
• Farmers' Market Field Trip
• International Walk to School Day
• Standing Up to Cyberbullying
• Celebrating Constitution Day
• Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
• Back to School
• Ideas for the New FHS
• Holcomb Elementary Teachers Participate in Project 21c Wiki

Root Elementary Installs Solar Modules

Click here to view the Root Elementary Solar Module Photo Slideshow

When Root Elementary needed to replace a rooftop heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit this spring, Director of School Plant Services, David Tate, saw a unique opportunity for the school district: upgrade to new equipment that is not only energy efficient, but also has the potential to produce electricity for consumption.

The district worked with their Lennox HVAC provider to install the SunSource Commercial Energy System, the industry’s only solar-power system integrated directly into a rooftop unit. In March 2011, the new energy efficient HVAC unit connected to six solar modules was installed at Root. Designed with a plug-and-play system for simple installation, the system with modules was installed in about half a day without requiring any changes to the building’s existing electrical wiring infrastructure.

The solar array is monitored by a web-based program that tracks real time system status and energy production. The real time energy monitoring allows facilities staff to easily track how much electricity is produced and identify when the system is not functioning correctly.

To date, the solar array has produced 732 kWh or enough energy to power 24 houses for one day.

The web based energy monitoring also tracks reduction in greenhouse gases and presents information in user-friendly graphs – a tool Root Elementary Green Team members learned about in the spring. Students in the afterschool club viewed an example of a photovoltaic cell, discussed where else they have used or seen solar (calculators, yard lights, small pond fountains, etc.), and reviewed graphs on the energy monitoring website. While students were disappointed they could not actually go on the roof and view the solar array, they were impressed by the online monitoring tool and easily understood how solar energy production fluctuates throughout the day after viewing the website graphs.

You can view the Enlighten/Enphase energy monitoring system and learn more about the system here. (http://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/y5Yx15581)

The ability to share this information with students takes the solar installment to a whole new level. Increasing energy efficiency is important for the district, but according to David Tate, “It’s not only for the energy savings, but also to educate our school system’s Green Teams about new energy technologies.”

While the six solar modules will not reduce overall energy consumption in the district significantly, the installation shows the district’s continued commitment to trying new energy technologies when the opportunity arises. The monitoring website also models how the district’s school buildings can be powerful teaching tools for environmental sustainability.

For more information about the Solar Panels, please contact Dana Smith, FPS Energy Corps member at dana.smith@fayar.net