Baltimore School Cuts Emissions, Beefs up STEM Ed with Solar Power
Elmer A. Henderson: A Johns Hopkins Partnership School has completed installation of a 178-kilowatt solar energy project.
The installation comprises more than 600 photovoltaic panels covering approximately 10 percent of the school building's roof and providing shade for 29 parking spaces. It will provide about 230,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, reducing the K-8 school's carbon dioxide output by approximately 350,000 pounds.
"Henderson-Hopkins pursues the most contemporary, effective approaches to educating our students, so it is only fitting that we would take the same approach to powering our building," said Katrina Foster, principal at Henderson-Hopkins, in a prepared statement. "The new solar power system will help us share the importance of sustainability with our community and serve as an educational resource for our students to learn about renewable energy."
The project was financed through a 15-year power purchase agreement by Constellation and includes real-time data monitoring capabilities for use in STEM classes.
"Renewable energy is a key part of our energy future, and this installation will help students to develop an understanding of how it is generated," said Andy Frank, special adviser to the president on economic development for Johns Hopkins University and member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, in a prepared statement. "Henderson-Hopkins will also see a significant, long-term reduction in expected energy costs."
About the Author
Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].