Through a generous grant from Austin Energy's Solar for Schools Program, Small Middle School received a solar panel array in 2008. The electricity it generates feeds directly into the school's grid. You can monitor the amount of energy produced by clicking here.
We are fortunate to live in a city that takes investment in green technologies so seriously.
According to the Austin Business Journal, Austin was ranked number 1 in the Business Facilities magazine in availability of renewable energy and ranked number 2 in the greenest metros category.
One of the major players in the cities green energy success is the Austin Independent School District. From the Austin Independent School District's website:
The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the Austin School District is the eighth largest purchaser of green power among all U.S. government entities — and the only public school district in the nation on the EPA’s Top 20 “Green Power” list.
The Top 20 Local Government list represents the largest purchasers among local government partners within the Green Power Partnership. The combined green power purchases of these organizations amounts to more than 1.8 billion kilowatt-hours annually, which is equivalent to the electricity needed to power more than 180,000 average American homes annually.
Green power is electricity from environmentally-preferable renewable resources such as solar, wind, or geothermal power. Green power currently accounts for about two percent of America’s electricity supply, but voluntary purchasing of renewable energy is accelerating renewable energy development.
In October 2003, AISD made the largest purchase to date of renewable energy from Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® program, with 45.7 million kilowatt-hours annually of green power. In May 2008, AISD purchaesd another 19.92 million kilowatt-hours. The total AISD subscription, 65.64 million kilowatt-hours, accounts for approximately 40 percent of all of its electric power needs and is enough to power 5,386 homes year-round.
While other educational institutions subscribe to green power, the AISD subscription is by far the largest by a K-12 school district anywhere in the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Green Power Partnership.
“AISD believes in being good stewards of our resources. It is also important for our students that we set an example of respect and responsibility for the environment,” Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen said. “We are proud to be on EPA’s prestigious Top 20 list of government green power purchasers.”
Green power is electricity from environmentally-preferable renewable resources such as solar, wind, or geothermal power. Green power currently accounts for about two percent of America’s electricity supply, but voluntary purchasing of renewable energy is accelerating renewable energy development.
In October 2003, AISD made the largest purchase to date of renewable energy from Austin Energy’s GreenChoice® program, with 45.7 million kilowatt-hours annually of green power. In May 2008, AISD purchaesd another 19.92 million kilowatt-hours. The total AISD subscription, 65.64 million kilowatt-hours, accounts for approximately 40 percent of all of its electric power needs and is enough to power 5,386 homes year-round.
While other educational institutions subscribe to green power, the AISD subscription is by far the largest by a K-12 school district anywhere in the country, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Green Power Partnership.
“AISD believes in being good stewards of our resources. It is also important for our students that we set an example of respect and responsibility for the environment,” Superintendent Dr. Meria Carstarphen said. “We are proud to be on EPA’s prestigious Top 20 list of government green power purchasers.”
As a campus housing a Green Tech Academy, we aim to integrate alternative energy sources into our curriculum. In fact, two of our elective offerings for 7th and 8th graders are Energy and the Environment and Environmental Technology and Design.
We also see ourselves as a demonstration site for our community to explore these green technologies. We have received further funding to purchase two different types of wind turbines. Once installed, we will feature them on this blog.
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