Why Should My School Go Solar? How to Transition Your School To Solar

The first time we heard of Greta Thunberg skipping classes on Fridays to stage protests, the world was shocked. A teenager sitting outside her country's parliament weekly because of climate change? But Greta's actions launched a new wave. Young people raised their voices from different parts of the globe. Many others started to ask, "Will climate change affect me?". Or "How can we move to renewable energy?." Or, in this case, her actions may have even prompted, "Why should my school go solar?".

Maybe you're asking the same. The answers have always been there. This article will give you a closer look.

Schools and Energy Consumption

You notice obvious parts of your school every day: the popular kids, after-school events, the one day when they serve lunch you like to eat. Not many people take note of many other things. Such as how the lights need to stay on everywhere, all the time. Or all the other equipment that runs all day to provide students with a conducive learning environment.

Schools use so much energy that electricity is their most considerable expense1, right after salaries. By 2006, $6 billion of taxpayers' money in the US was going to schools' electricity bills. Between 2016-2017 in the UK, state-funded schools consumed £584 million in electricity costs. In Queensland, Australia, the cost of powering schools rose by $10 million within 2 years (2016-18).

These figures may not mean much to you as a student. But when put into perspective, the reality weighs heavy.

Our electricity use contributes to climate change

Energy companies in the US derive up to 80% of their products from fossil fuels. This includes petroleum, diesel, oil, and gas. This could easily mean that at least 80% of US schools' electricity comes from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are one of the biggest contributors to polluting greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. This is because they interact with the natural greenhouse effect between the sun and the earth.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process through which the sun keeps the earth warm. The sun's rays hit the earth, and the earth absorbs heat, then bounces some of the energy back to space. Some gasses (such as water vapor, co2, nitrous oxide, CFCs, and methane) cover our atmosphere and help the earth to hold on to just the right amount of heat.

The problem is that we're burning fossil fuel that releases these same gases. They release greenhouse gases during production (oil refinement, electricity generation) and during consumption (driving a car, powering a generator). These extra gases in our atmosphere are trapping more heat than necessary, causing global warming. As we consume more fossil-fueled electricity, the earth's temperature will continue to rise.

Less funding goes to teachers' salaries and amenities

All over the world, on every continent, teachers continue to protest their low salaries. This is especially the case when you consider their responsibility to educate the next generation. You don't have to read the news to know this, though. At some point, it will become evident that your teachers probably aren't paid as well as other skilled professionals.

One of the reasons for low salaries is that schools can only receive so much funding. And a majority of those funds go to keeping the school doors open. As shared earlier, electricity is the second biggest expense for schools in the US. This affects how each school will prioritize its spending, and these priorities inevitably have a ripple effect on teachers' rewards.

These high electricity costs could also cut into funds needed for school amenities. This could mean less quality of learning, as students may not have access to all the necessary resources.

Students Reaction

Climate Protest Friday For the Future
Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

School students are speaking and marching publicly about environmental issues. At a TEDx talk, Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist, made her case. She said that she first heard of climate change when she was eight years old. What stayed with her was that the world was doing so little about it.

Upon seeing the aftermath of forest fires that ravaged parts of Swedish lands up to the Arctic, Greta started her protests. She would skip school on Fridays to protest outside the Swedish parliament. She went with placards and often handed out leaflets to passers-by.

In less than a year, Greta inspired similar protests from students worldwide. Just a few months later, in November 2018, Australian students launched their protest. 15,000 students left their classrooms to protest, despite being warned against it by their Prime Minister.

The first large-scale strike was in March 2019. Over 1.4 million students in 2,000 cities left their classrooms to protest against climate change. They directed their words at their governments. The request? Take action.

We Don't Have Time Climate Protest
"We Don't Have Time" Students worldwide protest the lack of action against climate change. None of us should ignore their voices. Instead, we should join the chorus to help spread the word and encourage more action. Each of us can act for change.  Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

In response, the UN Secretary-General commended these students and reached out to World Leaders. He has called for a summit in September 2019 "where concrete realistic plans" will be discussed regarding climate change.

Starting from the Roots - How is Your School Powered?

The good news is that there are other ways for students to start making changes within their society. Students can, for example, start with how their schools are powered. A potential alternative and clean energy source for schools worldwide is solar energy.

Solar energy is produced through the interaction of sun rays and solar panels. Solar energy, a type of renewable energy, is a good alternative energy source for schools, colleges, and universities. This is because it is both green and renewable.

What makes solar energy green? Green, in this case, means that no gasses are released during its use. The production of solar panels is also mostly green. Whereas there are some environmental costs in production and shipping, they are far greener than fossil fuel energy alternatives. Especially once installed. And once installed, the operating costs of solar power systems are small, presenting cost savings.

Renewable means that we can repeatedly produce solar energy without depleting the source. As long as we have solar panels and the sun keeps shining, we can always make solar power; as such renewable energy can play a vital role in reducing the effects of climate change.

Benefits of Solar Energy for Your School

Sandy Grove Middle School Solar Installation
Pictured is the Sandy Grove School in Lumber Bridge, North Carolina. Thanks to the school switching to solar, Sandy Grove is net zero. This means it does not draw any electricity from the grid. In fact, Sandy Grove generates 30% more than it uses. According to Spotlight Solar, the school will ultimately save the US taxpayer £35 million. And their renewable energy solar sculptures look great too! Photo Credit: Sandy Grove Middle School Creative Commons via Wiki Media CC BY-SA 4.0

Cut your contribution to fossil fuel production

After installing solar panels, your school can unplug from public grids (or at least partially, depending on the sun and the system's generating capacity). This removes a significant supply need. Energy companies will respond by reducing the amount of fossil-fueled electricity which they produce.

Therefore, your school's solar installation can produce your energy requirements with zero gas emissions. As explained above, solar energy production does not generate gas emissions, unlike fossil fuel products. With solar, your school can reduce air pollution and carbon footprint.

Schools can reduce energy costs without affecting learning

Whenever a school district attempts to cut down on its budget, they tend to go after things that will impact the quality of education. A recent example was UK schools losing 15,000 staff members due to budget cuts. It is expected that this will almost certainly affect the quality of education in those schools.

We can cut down energy costs without negatively impacting the performance of schools. Instead, students will be learning even more about solar energy use. And we can redeploy saved funds toward better education. These are practices they can take home, teach others, and create a ripple effect across their communities. Investing in solar saves money and, in time, reduces energy bills.

Examples of Schools Using Solar Energy

Your school can completely redirect its energy requirements to solar. Today, given developments and improvements in the solar industry, this is actually possible. In fact, there are numerous examples of schools already doing this. For example, in 2016, high schools in Indiana districts decided to go completely solar. They realized that they could save between $4-5 million over the next 20 years by unplugging from public grids.

Last year, Sheridan Schools was the first (of these schools) to install its own solar panels. They are currently operating off their own energy generation. Sheridan has succeeded in freezing costs for the next 25 years while reducing its carbon footprint.

At Camberwell Grammar School in Australia, the student council convinced their board to go solar2. Today, Camberwell does not just generate its own electricity. While the school is on summer vacation, they redirect electricity from their solar panel system to the main grid, providing additional energy for their community and earning from their solar installation.

We can find another interesting story in California. In 2016, Russel Tran (a sophomore) led a coalition of students from four schools to ask for a solar energy system. All four schools made up the Capistrano Unified School District. They also launched a petition on change.org titled "Dear Capistrano Unified School District, Let's Go Solar!".

Their schools listened. This year, San Clemente will be the second school in the district to receive the installation of its solar panels. San Juan Hills, Ressel's school, already benefited from theirs in 2018.

How to Convince Your School to Go Solar

Have these stories inspired you? You can start taking action today. You and other students can convince your school to go solar.

But before anything else, you need an action plan to share the advantages of solar energy and create actions. A change in electricity supply is a big decision for your school board. If you're going to convince them, you need to have your answers ready. Because they will have questions. Here are a few pointers to follow.

Do your research

Understand how solar energy works. Ask the administration for the figure on how much energy your school currently consumes and then compare those numbers to how much energy your school could realistically produce.

You can also consider other essential parameters such as available roof space, the potential for an energy storage system, and likely operating costs. If you don't have this information available or need some help reach out to local experts and installers who will be happy to help. With this information, you'll have answers on how your plan for the school can work.

Explain both the environmental and financial benefits

There are many advantages of moving to renewable energy. Make a list that applies to your school's solar energy generation.

Your school's board may also be passionate about the environment. But they must also consider the financial aspect of every penny. This is why you should expand on the financial benefits of going solar. The installation costs of solar panel installations may be heavy upfront. But your school could potentially freeze energy costs over the next few decades.

Show examples of other schools thriving off solar energy

We've given you some examples, but many other schools are benefiting from solar energy. Gather as many case studies as possible to include in your presentation. Ideally, search for schools local to you and use them as reference cases, pointing to energy cost savings and the benefits of their solar installations. Part of your argument can be simply stated: If other people can do it, why can't we?

Approach your school board

Once you have your information gathered, ask to speak to the school board. Get an appointment if possible, or ask for a slot in their next meeting. Inform your students' council about your plans to gain their support and access—rally as much of the student population as possible behind going solar at your school. At the end of the day, the more voices and support you have, the more likely you will be to be heard.

Ask your community for support

Involve as many groups in your community as possible. Start from the PTA - encourage your parents to speak up about going solar at their meetings. For community members who are part of churches, mosques, and other communities, ask them to rally further support. Their voices will remind the school that the students are not alone in their call to go solar. You can also reach out to other local businesses who might have experience in solar panel installation to support your case.

Collectively do better

It's not enough to talk about the environment passionately. Your interests should also be reflected in supporting actions. Encourage your schoolmates to waste less. Share renewable energy tips and opportunities for energy savings. Treat the school environment consciously and promote awareness.

Students can insert environment-related topics into as many school projects as possible. When decision-makers at your school realize this passion is all-around, they will likely become better motivated to take action—ultimately supporting your call to move to solar and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Conclusion

Students have never had a better time to impact their schools and communities. Not only are you better informed, but you also have worldwide support from people with the same environmental interests. Take advantage of these tools and wield them for a better future.

Schools switching to solar light bulb and sun
Arguably there have never been better reasons not only to ask "why should my school go solar" but also to do your bit and see if you can catalyze it happening with the help and support of the wider school community. We hope this article has inspired you! Photo Credit: Photo Darius Krause from Pexels
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