Nagel, D. (2010) California District To Install Solar Arrays, The Journal
Baldwin Unified School District in California is having Solar Power Inc install solar arrays on several schools in the district, saving them an estimated $1 million a year. The school will also receive millions in performance-based incentive rebates. 8 Individual systems will create more than 3 million kilowatt hours of power within the first year. The project will save the community money and provide jobs during the construction. The solar panels will also double as covered parking for all those rainy days here in California.
Do I think this is logical for other districts throughout the country?
Absolutely. I didn't realize how much it would cost school to power up daily. I read it costs a fluorescent bulb .03 cents per day. Which would cost a school anything from $50,000 - $100,000 per year in light bulbs alone. The school also has computers, projectors, printers, scanners, and more that require much more "juice" than fluorescent bulbs. So after a year or two the solar panels would pay for themselves.
Could something like this be implemented into a lesson plan?
Oh yes. And I actually found one online while trying to find cost for power information. This can be applied to simple mathematical problems, even using pennies to demonstrate. Different lengths of time and coal necessity can also be factored into the problem as well.
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