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Maryland School To Save $1.4 Million with Solar Energy

George Washington Carver Elementary School in Lexington Park, MD will formally activate a 2,100-panel solar energy system May 3.

The 510-kilowatt system will generate approximately 677,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in its first year, accounting for 80 percent of the school's energy usage and saving $1.4 million over 15 years.

The system, installed and financed by Standard Solar with no upfront cost to the school, was funded in part by a $500,000 grant from the Maryland Energy Administration's Project Sunburst program. Project Sunburst uses funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act to promote the installation of renewable energy systems at public buildings in Maryland.

Construction of the system, which began producing electricity in March, kicked off in December 2010.

More information about the project and an online monitoring system tracking historical and current system usage is available here.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

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