Solar power lights up school (CA)

[jpak]

http://www.redding.com/redd/nw_local/article/0,2232,REDD_17533_5030030,00.html

COTTONWOOD -- Anderson Union High School District officials are looking at the sunny side of life.

In fact, the sun is paying for the district's electricity.

The school district enthusiastically unveiled Thursday at West Valley High School its new $1.73 million photovoltaic system -- solar panels that officials say will reduce the school's energy consumption by 30 percent. Adding to the figure is $283,000 in additional energy efficiency upgrades of West Valley High facilities that will save the school an additional 20 percent in energy consumption, officials said.

<snip>

The school still will save about $20,000 this year in energy costs, even after making loan payments and meeting its reduced energy bill.

<more>

[nam78_two]

1. recommended/nt

[goddess40]

2. I promoted geo-thermal when they built our new high school

but it fell on deaf ears. Now they can whine about high fuel costs. Fond du Lac Wisconsin has it and it saves them a lot of money.

https://nsba.org/site/page_REN4.asp?TRACKID=&DID=385&CID=428

Results
The building will save the district an estimated $290,000 a year in operation and maintenance costs when compared to more conventional buildings

The system uses the Earth's natural heat to warm the 400,000 square-foot building. It makes maximum use of natural daylight, reducing the need for electric lighting and space cooling. A heat recovery system restores more than 80 percent of the heat exhausted when fresh air is brought into the school.

[XemaSab]

3. Awesome!

This, BTW, is in the reddest of red California... Amazing that they got this through!