Students Roll Up Their Sleeves to Learn About Solar
The construction students at the Career Center are helping the professionals at High Noon Solar install solar panels on the roof of the center, so as the school saves money on energy costs, they are also teaching students valuable skills at the same time.
As the 99 kilowatt solar system gets installed at School District 51's Career Center, the students who will be using the energy produced by the panels also get an opportunity to help watch, and participate, in the installation process. High Noon Solar, the company installing the system, is excited to be a part of the learning process.
"The system will actually be cash flow positive from day one and the kids get an opportunity to see how it's installed, said Heidi Ihrke, co-owner of High Noon Solar.
The system is part of an SPPA, or 3rd party ownership situation, which benefits an entity like School District 51 finanacially right away. Plus, the students get an opportunity to see and learn about the technology right on their own building.
Students like Sam Gaurmer, who wants to be a construction worker when he graduations, will benefit greatly from helping the professionals as they install the panels.
"I've always liked the idea of solar panels, but this is going to help me a lot in the future for when I want to be able to install them on my roof," says Guarmer.
Watch the KREX interview here.
The solar installation will offset more than a third of the building's total power usage annually. This is the second of five schools to receive solar from High Noon Solar, the first being a 75KW system on Dual Immersion Academy earlier this year.
