remingtont ($1,000.00)
todd ($50.00)
blairzo ($50.00)
Ewic ($20.00)SCIENCE 9/10
“OFF THE GRID” SOLAR ENERGY PROJECT
Proposed by: Oak Bay High School Block G Science 9 class and the Oak Bay Environment Club
Goal: To install a 2.5 kW grid-tie in, photovoltaic system which will generate enough green electricity to take two science labs (East building, top floor) off of the grid for all non-heating electrical needs beginning in the fall of 2008.
Purpose:
To educate students about the science of photovoltaic power supply
To educate the school community about environmental issues and responsibilities
To build and strengthen community linkages and partnerships (connecting the school community with the Tech industry and the community at-large)
To generate long-term $ savings and a decreased carbon footprint for the school
To model for, and to collaborate with, other environmentally-minded schools and community groups regarding similar projects
Closing Criteria:
Supply and installation of one 2.8kW Solar Power Grid Tie - Building Retrofit system equivalent to:
twelve 224Watt Sharp solar modules on non-penetrating roof mounts
one 2.8 kW Xantrex grid tie inverter
delivery and installation of system on Oak Bay High School East Building (some of electrical connection work to be done by School District personnel in consultation with supplier)
equipment to be new manufacture and under suitable warranty
Final design and proposed equipment must be signed off on by Supervisor of Maintenance, SD61
Bounty specifications are subject to change and review by Ellen Hunter-Perkins (Grade 12 student)
Bounty Promotion:
Class members will post a philanthropic project proposal on the escrow service website, BountyUp, which connects those with specific project ideas with people and organizations which would like to support such projects, then will work to promote the project and the site among their friends, parents and other community members and connections.
The project will also be featured on the ‘TwoFest’ Concert website which is in aid of environmental projects and is broadly sponsored by community companies and agencies such as Telus, BC Hydro, Sierra Club, Shaw, and VanCity. We expect to have a link on the websites of these companies, as well.
Newspaper articles, magazine articles and Shaw and
A Channel interviews, and other media exposureStudent Facebook pages, Oak Bay High School parent and alumni newsletters
Connection with the Mayor of Oak Bay and our MLA
Environmental Economics
I have added to the bounty and I wish you luck. I expect you will be connecting to the grid using the net metering tarrif that was created in response to my application to the BC Utilities Commission a few years back.To get the best educational value from this project you will need to consider its economics and understand that you will not achive the fourth of your five purposes, that of generating long-term $ savings and a decreased carbon footprint for the school.
Grid tied solar photovoltiac in BC costs many times what it is worth so your project will in simple economic terms be an ongoing liability, depending on how you cost the donations. The capital costs are many times higher than the value of the electricity produced and the system has no payback period.
In terms of reducing your carbon footprint it is likely you could do far more with the money if it was used for thermal solar panels that pre-heat water. This would directly reduce your use of the gas or oil that I expect is presently used to heat water for the school. Any surplus heat could then be use to heat the school itself replacing more gas or oil use.
Sorry to be so negative but if we are to understand the forces that are collectively driving us to deplete and destroy our planets resources as fast as possible we have to understand the short sighted economics that drive so many choices.
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Thanks to Carmanah Technologies!
A big thank-you to Richard Wayte, Carmanah Technologies, who helped us develop the initial specifications for the system.