New Jersey School Goes Solar To Reduce Costs, Emissions

  • By Jim Barthold
  • 04/24/12

Blairstown, NJ-based boarding school Blair Academy has completed the installation of a 253-kilowatt solar electric system that is expected to meet nearly 7 percent of the campus' electric needs and save $16,500 in electricity costs during its first year of installation.

The school, which serves approximately 450 students, used a SurePath Solar power purchase agreement (PPA) from Tioga Energy to acquire and design the rooftop solar project across its recreational facilities. The solar panels themselves were installed by ProTech Energy Solutions.

The PPA follows a policy developed by Tioga, which owns and operates renewable energy systems and helps organizations develop clean energy plans that also hedge against energy price volatility. It calls for Blair Academy to purchase the electricity generated by the system for 20 years and for Tioga to own the system and manage the operation during that time.

In addition to the system's projected cost savings, Blair Academy will also be doing its part for the environment because the system "will prevent the release of more than 95 tons of CO2 each year," said John Drexinger, principal for Pro-Tech Energy Solutions who also said this "equates to approximately 205,000 vehicle miles not traveled" and "helps both the school and the State of New Jersey meet its clean energy and sustainability goals."

Solar energy is the latest instance of Blair Academy's environmental commitment, said James Frick, assistant headmaster for finance and operations at the school.

"We've demonstrated our success in a variety of manners, including a robust recycling program and a student-led movement to implement more efficient lighting," Frick said in a news release. "Our renewable energy initiative allowed us to raise the sustainability bar even higher" and "we are able to benefit from solar power and at the same time significantly cut our cost for electricity."

Blair Academy is a 164-year-old college preparatory school based near the Delaware Water Gap. With an endowment of $66.5 million, the school serves approximately 350 boarding students and 100 day students.

More information is available at blair.edu.

About the Author

Jim Barthold is a freelance technology reporter. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • classroom scene with students gathered around a laptop showing a virtual tour interface

    Discovery Education Announces Spring Lineup of Free Virtual Field Trips

    This Spring, Discovery Education is collaborating with partners such as Warner Bros., DC Comics, National Science Foundation, NBA, and more to present a series of free virtual field trips for K-12 students.

  • glowing padlock shape integrated into a network of interconnected neon-blue lines and digital nodes, set against a soft, blurred geometric background

    3 in 4 Administrators Expect a Security Incident to Impact Their School This Year

    In an annual survey from education identity platform Clever, 74% of administrators admitted that they believe a security incident is likely to impact their school system in the coming year. That's up from 71% who said the same last year.

  • horizontal stack of U.S. dollar bills breaking in half

    ED Abruptly Cancels ESSER Funding Extensions

    The Department of Education has moved to close the door on COVID relief funding for schools, declaring that "extending deadlines for COVID-related grants, which are in fact taxpayer funds, years after the COVID pandemic ended is not consistent with the Department’s priorities and thus not a worthwhile exercise of its discretion."

  • pattern of icons for math and reading, including a pi symbol, calculator, and open book

    HMH Launches Personalized Path Solution

    Adaptive learning company HMH has introduced HMH Personalized Path, a K-8 ELA and math product that combines intervention curriculum, adaptive practice, and assessment for students of all achievement levels.