Students for Solar Schools

Here’s a glimpse as to what the installation at Westlake will actually look like. Due to some recent concerns about the structural integrity of the roofs, the panels will now go on the carport behind Building 3.

Thanks to Newbury Park High School for featuring Students for Solar School’s in its school newspaper, the Panther Prowler. The article was featured on the Prowler’s front page and summarized SSS’ achievements so far. Newbury Park HS is the most recent school to join the SSS organization, and student’s there, led by sophomore Shanti de Ruyter, are working to embark on the mission for solar panels. We look forward to working with them!

The full-length article may be viewed here. (scroll to bottom)

Today I gave a 25 minute presentation about Students for Solar Schools at my rival high school’s first ever sustainability summit. Thousand Oaks High School’s 2010 summit was a huge success and even Superintendent Contini made an appearance and gave a riveting speech about his childhood experience living near the Cuyahoga River and seeing the polluted water actually catch fire. My school spirit was slightly tarnished when I found out by a show of hands that many more Thousand Oaks students were knowledgeable of the Copenhagen Climate Conference than at Westlake. I have already received emails from students who are interested in starting an SSS chapter. One at TOHS would mean every single high school in CVUSD will have a Students for Solar Schools chapter!

Byron Thomas, the student body Vice President of North Augusta High School wrote to me today about his inspiring story. He writes, “…I got North Augusta High School 10, 200watt solar panels which will equal a 2 kilowatt system. With the help of the EarthDay Network all of my dreams of turning my high school into a green school are coming true!!! We’re working with the EarthDay Network in Washington DC with the Director of Education Sean Miller and former Green Schools Coordinator Mike Beebe who sold my story to companies and there partners, in which BP was grateful to donate the solar panels to my high school for no cost… The panels will save my school over $35,000 in a 25 year spin, reduce over 100,000 pounds of Carbon-Dioxide, and serve over 3% of my schools energy needs… I’ve been invited to a National Environmental Conference in New York City, and one of the Co-Presidents asked me would I like to speak at the workshop when I come up there to share my story and bring a video to show the installation process and everything else to dealing with my story and solar panels… I will turn my school into a Green School before I graduate in 2011 and put North Augusta High School on the top of the map.” You can contact Byron at tbyron25@yahoo.com and also the Earth Day Network at miller@earthday.net.

Jason Bade, a graduate of Aragon High School in San Mateo, CA, has led a successful lobbying effort that brought solar power to schools in his district.

His quest to convince the district to invest in solar power began in October 2007, when he first met with district members. After much time and effort, the district’s School Board approved a massive solar installation, funded by bond money, for all six high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District this past November. The $32 million project has been started and will lower the district’s annual electric bill by $1 million. This means that the general fund will now have $1 million more every year which is equivalent to almost 10 full time positions.

Jason is currently a freshman at Stanford University, and also a California Climate Champion.

This December marks an important milestone for international climate negotiations. The COP15 also known as the Copenhagen Climate Change Convention will occur from December 5th to 19th with the goal of creating a new non-binding treaty. Adam Raudonis, the founder of Students for Solar Schools, was selected to be one of two American teenagers representing the British Council’s International Climate Champions Program at Copenhagen.

The Students for Solar Schools project at Westlake High School was selected as a finalist for the Student Conservation Association’s Green Your School Award sponsored by the NBC Universal Foundation. The grand prize is a $5000 grant. Please Click here to see the Students for Solar Schools page on the SCA website.

Last Friday marked an important milestone for the Westlake Students for Solar Schools project. The meeting brought together the district facilities department, Advanced Solar Electric, Tremco Roofing, and Students for Solar Schools. It is humbling to witness all these diverse groups coming together to work towards the common goal of installing solar panels at Westlake. Thanks to a donation from Solar World, and free roof work from Tremco, it was officially confirmed at the meeting that our system size would be more than doubled! What started as a 2.8kW dream, has grown to be a 6.65kW, 36 panel array! This new array will be able to power at least the lights of 5 classrooms and offset 270,000 Lbs of Carbon Dioxide. The new size will also make it the world’s largest student led solar installation!!!

On October 6th, Students for Solar Schools held a fundraiser at the Sea Casa Restaurant from 4 to 9 pm. Westlake SSS earned over $600, making it the most successful fundraising night the restaurant has ever seen. The owner told me that at one point a line stretched completely around the buildings. They even ran out of rice and beans! 25% of the revenue went directly toward the SSS project at Westlake High School. This was our second to last fundraiser as we prepare to place our order for the panels!

At the Governor’s Global Climate Summit I had the opportunity to interview Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa about Climate Change and Solar Schools Initiatives in LA.

Students for Solar Schools gains its first international chapter thanks to Alanna, a Canadian International Climate Champion from Swift Current, Saskatchewan who plans on starting a solar initiative at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School. She hopes to use her Take Action Club, which she is head of, as a resource for furthering her solar initiative. SCCHS has about 1000 students.

Students for Solar Schools has been invited to give a short presentation to the Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club next Friday, September 11th. Adam Raudonis and Lisa Peng will again be representing Westlake’s SSS at the event.

Students for Solar Schools will be working with Corvallis High School as they make progress towards the ambitious goal of a 100kW system for their campus. The student led initiative there received a $20,000 Walmart Grant, which will go towards the first 10kW of PV solar to be installed. Please visit the Green CHS website to learn more about the project and donate or become a partner. The 10kW per year philosophy, has the advantage of ensuring that many generations of students will have the opportunity to become leaders in pursuing renewable energy.

Students for Solar Schools founder Adam Raudonis and VP Lisa Peng were invited to present their story about creating and developing SSS at the Westlake Business Connections meeting. The event’s theme is “Growing Business by Networking People.” The nationwide network Students for Solar Schools has built is what makes our project truly unique. As the Westlake High Solar Initiative nears completion, even more energy will be able to be devoted to helping other schools follow our model, and making sure each SSS leader is connected with fellow SSS members across the country. Thanks to Mr. Hellebrand for inviting us to the meeting!

Today’s start up of the Students for Solar Schools Initiative at Whitfield High School in St. Louis, Missouri  marks the 12th solar initiative started under SSS. Jessica Smasal, is just getting started but plans to meet with school, county, and city representatives over the coming weeks. She also plans to work closely with Marissa and Codyrose on the project. Whitfield School is a small private school which means collaboration with the school administration should be relatively easy. The team also plans on possibly working with Missouri Schools Going Solar which has already installed 17 arrays at schools across the state.