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Blazing New Trails: Schools Take a Closer Look at Their Energy Use

Thirty-six Ohio schools (some private, some elementary, some junior high schools) are complementing their energy and science curriculums with the installation of a PV array – creating exciting, hands-on opportunities for kids to learn about school energy use, renewable power, electricity generation and energy policy issues. (See accompanying list of the 36 schools in Ohio.)

One benefit of installing an array and integrating it as a teaching tool in the curriculum is better student performance. Bluffsview Elementary in Worthington was the first Ohio school to install a PV array. The school administration has credited part of the improved science and math proficiency test scores by fourth and sixth grade students to the solar array and accompanying curriculum improvements.

The Ohio Department of Development’s Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) supports these solar schools with a $3000 grant to offset the cost of buying and installing an array. OEE is committed to reducing energy use and supporting renewable energy. In conjunction with partners like the Foundation for Environmental Education, school districts and their communities, the United States Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roof Initiative (MSRI) and local electric utilities, more and more Ohio schools are considering installing PV arrays and also using their school buildings as learning laboratories.

Perhaps a PV array is not in your school’s future. If your school district, like most, is concerned about rising energy costs, then you could join Ohio’s EnergySmart Schools Program. Led by the Ohio Energy Project, an affiliate of the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, educators from across Ohio provide technical information and professional development workshops to assist teachers and community members by bringing contemporary issues about energy to classrooms in your school. With these programs students, teachers and building staff use their school buildings as hands-on laboratories for studying physical science by learning how to save energy.

Some schools are ready to prioritize dramatic improvements in the energy efficiency of their buildings and the indoor air quality of their facilities. In other words, they want to become "high-performance schools." This upcoming summer, the OEE will continue the daylong series of seminars on high-performance schools. OEE works with statewide partners to host a workshop for building professionals and a hold a panel discussion for the greater community. Please contact The Foundation for Environmental Education at 614) 470-0435 for information about this series.

If you or other school supporters want to install a PV array, learn more about EnergySmart schools, or you aspire to make your building a high-performance school, please contact the Office of Energy Efficiency’s schools/education energy specialist, Elaine Barnes, by calling 1-800-848-1300. She can help you identify the steps necessary for developing community support for these efforts.