[Durham INC] Fwd: Column: Efficient Solar Schools & Healthier Kids (Herald-Sun)

[Melissa Rooney Writing]

Looks like John Schelp’s column regarding clean-energy initiatives/installments in Durham Public Schools came out LAST Sunday. I’ve included it below for your perusal.
Again, please sign the petition and write your county commissioners (and school board members, may as well use the machine-gun approach).
http://www.repowerourschools.com/durham/ <http://www.repowerourschools.com/durham/>

MR




> 
> Efficient Solar Schools & Healthier Kids
> Herald-Sun, 21 Feb 2016
> By John Schelp and Sarah Montgomery
> 
> Jordan High School will soon be harnessing the power of the sun. As part of a matching grant program, parents, teachers, and students helped raise money for a five kilowatt solar array that will be installed this spring. Forest View Elementary, through a similar community effort, also gained a mobile solar generator last November as a teaching tool for the classroom.
> This increase of solar in our schools reflects its growth statewide, as North Carolina ranks fourth nationally for installed solar capacity. The fact that these schools united to bring solar to their students is no surprise since we all want what’s best for our children, both inside and outside the classroom. This sentiment drives actions big and small, from parents checking homework daily to the school board seeking a bond for school improvements and construction.
> The good news is that solar could play an even bigger role in the district, according to a new report by a North Carolina research center. The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University (NC CETC) found that Durham Public Schools (DPS) can meet all of its electricity needs and save millions by going 100% solar today. DPS currently spends $5.7 million annually on electricity, and by beginning the transition to 100% renewable electricity now, the district could save 9% compared to buying electricity from their utility provider over the next 25 years. That money could instead be reinvested in our students, teachers, and classrooms by funding 319 starting teacher salaries or 31,450 tablets, for example. Solar pays for itself and more.  
> While the cost savings is noteworthy on its own, the benefits of cleaner air from solar are compelling. The current energy mix for DPS is comprised of about 95% fossil fuels and nuclear power. Air pollution from coal and natural gas plants exacerbates asthma, and with more than 50,000 North Carolina kids suffering, it’s the leading cause of missed schools days for children with chronic diseases. Not only that, African-American children are disproportionately affected, being twice as likely to suffer from asthma as white children.  When kids aren’t in classrooms learning and parents must scramble to find child care, the whole family is affected. Solar is clean and protects our children’s health.
> So what does a transition to 100% renewable electricity look like? The first step is always to reduce energy consumption with energy efficiency improvements.  Using less electricity means fewer solar panels needed to meet that demand. The report estimated that DPS can reduce its energy use by 25% through both infrastructure and behavior changes. The new LED lighting installed at Eastway Elementary is a perfect example of how DPS is already taking steps to reduce energy and save money through efficiency and in doing so, preparing the district to save even more with solar. Students can get involved too. The Center for Green Schools <http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/> “Powering Down” report found public schools can reduce electricity use by 20-37% through behavior changes alone. Simply put, energy efficiency and solar work best together.
> Another important step forward is considering how the proposed school bond could lay the groundwork for this district-wide transition to solar. The bond is already slated to fund more efficiency measures as well as the construction of five schools in the next decade. This is a golden opportunity to design and build new schools with the latest in energy efficient and clean energy technology, which creates jobs in our community. NC CETC recommends that all new buildings be net-zero energy, meaning that they use less energy than the building produces through its solar installations.  This is yet another way that the school board can set up DPS to use less energy and save more money.
> When we send our kids to school, we expect that they are being taught more than just the fundamentals but also how we are connected to our communities. Powering DPS with 100% renewable electricity would touch every child and classroom while improving the air we all breathe. When it comes to our children’s health and the health of our community, let's work together for a better Durham.
> 
> John Schelp lives and works in Durham, and Sarah Montgomery is a Durham parent and on the Green Schools Committee at U.S. Green Building Council North Carolina Chapter.
> 
> Dear neighbors,
> Wanted to make sure you saw this piece from the Sunday paper...
> With best wishes,John
> Efficient Solar Schools & Healthier KidsHerald-Sun, 28 Feb 2016By John Schelp and Sarah Montgomery
> Jordan
> High School will soon be harnessing the power of the sun. As part of a 
> matching grant program, parents, teachers, and students helped raise 
> money for a five kilowatt solar array that will be installed this 
> spring. Forest View Elementary, through a similar community effort, also
> gained a mobile solar generator last November as a teaching tool for 
> the classroom.This
> increase of solar in our schools reflects its growth statewide, as 
> North Carolina ranks fourth nationally for installed solar capacity. The
> fact that these schools united to bring solar to their students is no 
> surprise since we all want what’s best for our children, both inside and
> outside the classroom. This sentiment drives actions big and small, 
> from parents checking homework daily to the school board seeking a bond 
> for school improvements and construction.The
> good news is that solar could play an even bigger role in the district,
> according to a new report by a North Carolina research center. The N.C.
> Clean Energy Technology Center at N.C. State University (NC CETC) found
> that Durham Public Schools (DPS) can meet all of its electricity needs 
> and save millions by going 100% solar today. DPS currently spends $5.7 
> million annually on electricity, and by beginning the transition to 100%
> renewable electricity now, the district could save 9% compared to 
> buying electricity from their utility provider over the next 25 years. 
> That money could instead be reinvested in our students, teachers, and 
> classrooms by funding 319 starting teacher salaries or 31,450 tablets, 
> for example. Solar pays for itself and more.  While
> the cost savings is noteworthy on its own, the benefits of cleaner air 
> from solar are compelling. The current energy mix for DPS is comprised 
> of about 95% fossil fuels and nuclear power. Air pollution from coal and
> natural gas plants exacerbates asthma, and with more than 50,000 North 
> Carolina kids suffering, it’s the leading cause of missed schools days 
> for children with chronic diseases. Not only that, African-American 
> children are disproportionately affected, being twice as likely to 
> suffer from asthma as white children.  When kids aren’t in classrooms 
> learning and parents must scramble to find child care, the whole family 
> is affected. Solar is clean and protects our children’s health.So
> what does a transition to 100% renewable electricity look like? The 
> first step is always to reduce energy consumption with energy efficiency
> improvements.  Using less electricity means fewer solar panels needed 
> to meet that demand. The report estimated that DPS can reduce its energy
> use by 25% through both infrastructure and behavior changes. The new 
> LED lighting installed at Eastway Elementary is a perfect example of how
> DPS is already taking steps to reduce energy and save money through 
> efficiency and in doing so, preparing the district to save even more 
> with solar. Students can get involved too. The Center for Green Schools
> “Powering Down” report found public schools can reduce electricity use 
> by 20-37% through behavior changes alone. Simply put, energy efficiency 
> and solar work best together. Another
> important step forward is considering how the proposed school bond 
> could lay the groundwork for this district-wide transition to solar. The
> bond is already slated to fund more efficiency measures as well as the 
> construction of five schools in the next decade. This is a golden 
> opportunity to design and build new schools with the latest in energy 
> efficient and clean energy technology, which creates jobs in our 
> community. NC CETC recommends that all new buildings be net-zero energy,
> meaning that they use less energy than the building produces through 
> its solar installations.  This is yet another way that the school board 
> can set up DPS to use less energy and save more money.When
> we send our kids to school, we expect that they are being taught more 
> than just the fundamentals but also how we are connected to our 
> communities. Powering DPS with 100% renewable electricity would touch 
> every child and classroom while improving the air we all breathe. When 
> it comes to our children’s health and the health of our community, let's
> work together for a better Durham.
> John
> Schelp lives and works in Durham, and Sarah Montgomery is a Durham 
> parent and on the Green Schools Committee at U.S. Green Building Council
> North Carolina Chapter.
> 

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