Solar School
Installation
Commissioning
Education
Our school now has sixteen solar panels, with
five more about to be installed. Our aim is to double the number of panels
by late 2008.
Why solar? Our school was concerned about gas heaters adjacent single exit
doors. Not only did we consider this situation dangerous, but bottled gas is
the most expensive form of heating in the south-west.
We were also concerned about rising utilities costs, in a rapidly expanding
school: $52,466.00 at last count!
Solar makes sense. Our long rows of solar panels work for us twelve or
more hours a day, 365 days of the year. We sell electricity back to the grid,
with major gains during school holidays. The program has been so successful, in
fact, that our P&C Association has helped install reverse-cycle
air-conditioners in most classrooms with excess student numbers. Savings (gas,
solar panels) mean operating costs are neutral.
We're grateful to the W. A. State Government for the Solar Schools Project,
which has assisted funding immensely; to Choice Electrics, our suppliers/installers;
and to our P&C Association, for supporting this project, which has created
comfortable classrooms and clean, green power for our school. Friday
night discos will help expand the Solar Schools Project in 2008-2009.
