Recent years have seen the world of solar power expand exponentially within many commercial settings, and a great example here is the realm of education. More and more schools and related educational facilities are realizing the great value of solar panel installation, and are installing larger and more efficient systems with each passing year.
At Intermountain Wind & Solar, we're happy to offer a wide range of commercial solar power solutions for numerous entities, including schools and school districts who are looking for sustainable initiatives and related benefits. What are some of the key areas of value that solar power brings to educational facilities? Here are several of the most notable.
While some of the other reasons for solar installations in school facilities are community-based in nature, the chief reason many such entities opt for solar often tends to come back to their own bottom line. Solar power can be a great way to save money on electricity, especially when you consider the fact that solar energy is renewable and completely free once your panels are in place.
For instance, by installing solar panels, a school district might be able to save as much as 30-50% on their annual electricity costs. This is great news for any entity that wishes to keep budgets in check while still doing the right thing from an environmental and sustainability standpoint.
Another great component of solar power in education is that it can help to teach students about sustainability and other related concepts. Having a visible reminder of the importance of renewable energy right on campus can help to foster an educational environment that places more emphasis on being green and taking better care of our planet.
By making solar energy a part of their learning program, schools can help students to appreciate the importance of renewable energy and its potential in our world. In addition, solar installations can also be used as a teaching tool for hands-on science classes and other related subjects.
Schools that install solar power systems may also benefit from improved community relations. People often appreciate when entities such as schools and other community organizations are taking a positive step towards sustainability by installing solar power. This can be a great way to build bridges with local residents who might have had doubts about the importance of renewable energy, or those who simply didn't understand it as much before.
This is especially true when the benefits of solar power in education are widely publicized and discussed. By making it known that a school or district is taking steps to use renewable energy, they will often be met with approval from both fellow community members and those further away who appreciate sustainability initiatives.
In many cases, using the Renew America's Schools grant or other programs that provide funding for solar panel installation can be a great help for those looking to make the switch to renewable energy. These grant programs often allow schools and other similar entities to have their solar installations partially paid for, either by federal or state grants or other sources of funding.
This is a great way to get your school up and running with solar power without having to pay for everything out-of-pocket.
If you're part of the decision-making group in a school organization that's made the choice to upgrade to solar power, there are specific considerations that should be taken into account with regard to timing. Since educational facilities tend to have a seasonal schedule of operations, it's important to plan installations around those times when the school is not in session and can handle any potential disruption caused by the installation process.
Now, this isn't to say that such an installation can't be carried out at any time during the school year - just that it should be done when potential disruption is minimized. Weekends are common times for this installation process, as well as any time when students or staff are not present on the premises.
At the end of the day, solar panel installations in educational settings can be highly beneficial both economically and environmentally. It's important to consider all aspects of such an installation before beginning, and make sure that everyone involved understands the potential benefits of such a move. With the right planning and execution, schools can reap great rewards from solar energy.
For more on this, or to learn about any of our commercial solar power solutions, speak to our team at Intermountain Wind & Solar today.
"All of the photos on this website are of real projects that Intermountain Wind & Solar has designed and installed.
We are proud to show off and stand behind our work."
