In February 2008, Port Townsend High School became the first Olympic Peninsula school to participate in BEF’s Solar 4R Schools program, and the fifth such installation funded by Puget Sound Energy (PSE) since 2004.
Power Trip Energy, a general contractor specializing in the sale and installation of renewable energy systems, has four PTHS alumni on staff that applied for the Solar 4R Schools grant and installed the system on the school gym.
The 1.02-kilowatt solar-electric project does more than just generate electricity. As a learning tool, it introduces students to renewable energy technology and provides them with an opportunity to explore global energy issues in an interactive, hands-on way. An interactive touch-screen kiosk, centrally located in the school auditorium, displays live system data and information about conservation and other renewable energy sources.
PTHS students and teachers have committed to undertaking a variety of educational endeavors, including incorporating the Solar 4R Schools classroom exercises into the existing curriculum at the school, and creating a film that documents the installation and operation of the solar array.
About BEF Solar 4R Schools Program:
Developed by Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Solar 4R Schools educates students, teachers and community members about the science and benefits of renewable energy technology. The program provides hands-on activity guides, science kits and demonstration solar electric systems at no cost to schools, by working with local funding partners who want to show their commitment to renewable energy education. To receive a solar-electric system, schools must agree to own and maintain the system after installation. In turn, the school receives an exciting learning tool and all of the clean, renewable electricity it produces.
Since the project was installed, Port Townsend High School generated 2,411 Kilowatt-hours of electricity. From fossil-fueled sources, this amount of electricity would have emitted 3,376 lbs of CO2 into the atmosphere.
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Links to More InformationVisit Port Townsend High School's project page at BEF's Solar 4R School's website.
Solar 4R Schools uses a variety of equipment for our installations. This page lists our most popular equipment.
Interested in a career in renewable energy? The renewable energy industry is growing rapidly. Within the next five years the total amount of energy currently produced from renewable energy worldwide—10gigawatts— is expected to double. An incredible feat considering it’s taken nearly twenty years to reach the current level of production.
Solar 4R Schools is a program developed and managed by the nonprofit, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). To learn more about BEF, visit b-e-f.org
