Six Treasure Coast schools soon will harness the power of the sun to reduce energy costs and teach students about renewable energy.
Within the next few months, solar electric systems are expected to be installed at Port Salerno Elementary and Warfield Elementary in Martin County; Bayshore Elementary and C.A. Moore Elementary in St. Lucie County; and Oslo Middle and Sebastian River High in Indian River County.
About 100 schools statewide are getting the photovoltaic systems through the SunSmart Schools E-Shelter program sponsored by the Florida Solar Energy Center, a research institute of the University of Central Florida. The 10-kilowatt systems, valued at $100,000 each, will generate enough solar energy to power the average Florida home for a month.
The Florida Solar Energy Center, considered the largest and most active state-supported energy research institute in the nation, received a $10 million federal stimulus grant to install solar energy panels at selected schools that also are designated as emergency shelters.
The money is part of the $126 million that Florida received in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money for alternative energy projects.
Each school will receive a solar electric system with battery backup — complete with installation, educational resources and materials and training for school personnel, said Susan Schleith, the center's energy education coordinator.
The systems will provide power during outages, offset electricity costs to the school during normal operations and reduce greenhouse gases, said Schleith, adding the systems should be installed at all of the selected schools by or before April 20.
While the price of the high-tech systems has dropped, John Gillette, St. Lucie school district's senior project manager, said he doesn't think they are economical to purchase yet — without the grant.
"The educational part of it is what we are really interested in," he said. "Being able to show people alternative energy."
Schleith said she believes more schools and organizations will add solar power in the future as the price for systems declines and cost for electric rises. The center tested the photovoltaic systems being installed at schools across the state. They are expected to last about 25 years and save an estimated $1,200 a year in electricity costs per school, she said.
Each school had to be a state-designated Enhanced Hurricane Protection Area shelter and had to have about 1,000 square feet of unobstructed and unshaded space to place the system. Many schools place the systems on the ground rather than the roof.
Because the systems will be accessible, teachers can use them as teaching tools. Students can analyze data through websites tied to the systems.
"It's a great learning opportunity for the children and it's going to teach them about solar energy," Warfield Elementary Principal Loreen Francescani said. "And it's good for the environment."