Each solar system consists of 1,800 school solar panels, installed on 40,000 square-feet of the flat school building roofs. Both school solar panel projects combined are expected to generate 900 kW of electricity. This is enough to provide around one-third of the electricity required to light each school.
New school solar panel project in Libertyville
This completed solar project makes Libertyville School District 70 the biggest in Illinois that is run by solar power. It could also be considered one of the biggest solar-powered school district in the Midwest.
This renewable source of energy is projected to save the school district from $3,000 to $5,000 per month on electricity bills. Over the lifetime of the solar system, the school district can look forward to saving approximately $1 million in electric bills.
“We’re all hooked up and using solar power,” said Dr. Kurt Valentin, District 70’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations. Dr. Valentin guided the development of the project. “We’re just waiting on new meters fromCommonwealth Edison,” he added.
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation funds school solar panel project
The solar project was made possible through a private energy grant of $1.8 million given by the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation.
Both schools are connected to websites showing how much energy is being generated by the solar panels. These systems, not only produce electricity during sunny days, but also on cloudy days based on the records tabulated at the schools.
“Every morning now, I open up my computer and look at both school solar panel project websites to see how much energy we are channelling,” stated Guy Schumacher, the schools’ superintendent.
“I think everyone got very excited,” he added. “There was a sense of pride in looking at a project of this nature,” Schumacher continued.
Solar project teaching younger generation about energy conservation
These solar systems are not just technological projects but Schumacher said that they offer a tangible way to discuss sustainable energy with the 2,500 students in the district. These projects will help them understand the real meaning of conserving energy and the big difference that it makes.
An additional $1.4 million came from District 70. However, according to Schumacher, the district expects to earn several thousand back in energy savings every month.
Schumacher believes that savings could be higher, reducing the district’s electricity bills by almost 30 per cent.
“We’re already seeing more (solar) energy coming in than we anticipated,” stated Schumacher referring to the school solar panel project.
The credit for initiating the school solar panel project, according to Schumacher, goes to Dave Wilms, who is a resident of Libertyville. His children attend District 70 schools. He also taught science for 20 years at the Adalai Stevenson High School and served as the school’s sustainability coordinator for two years.
