In the San Dieguito Union High School District (SDUHSD), located in the Encinitas area, two schools—Canyon Crest Academy and La Costa Canyon High Schools—are installing solar energy systems to generate about 70 percent of each school’s energy usage.

The solar panel project is expected to save more than $10 million in energy costs over 15 years. And since the solar panels generate energy without producing greenhouse gases, the district will reduce its carbon footprint by 2,200 metric tons.

With a $25-million budget from the district, the project is expected to cost about $12 million. The district will use school construction bonds, federal subsidies and $4 million in grants from the California Solar Initiative to fund the project. The rest will be offset to San Diego Gas and Electric.

“So far, [the project’s] going fantastic. We’re actually a few weeks ahead of schedule, which is nice,” said John Addleman, director of planning and financial management for SDUHSD.

The project consists of installing 4,000 three-by-five foot solar panels at each school site. The two-megawatt panels, which absorb and convert the sun’s rays to electricity, are placed on top of shade structures in the parking lots of the two school sites.

Partnering with Chevron Energy Solutions—the largest installer of solar energy systems for education institutions in the United States—SDUHSD dreamed up the idea in 2008, began in April 2009 and broke ground June 16.

Considering safety, cost-neutrality and easy installation, Addleman said they decided to pick these two particular school sites because of their lot sizes.

“Both those schools have very large parking lots where we can install solar panels on shade structures, so that we have dedicated structures for the solar piece that are large enough to offset a significant amount of the utility bill,” Addleman said. “That way, they can pay for themselves and generate enough for incentive grants.”

SDUHSD chose shade structures based on results from neighboring districts like Poway Unified School District, which had security problems with panels mounted on the ground, and other districts that also had security issues with mounted panels on roofs.

“Chevron seemed to be the most responsive in terms of what we were looking for and in terms of being an overall provider of solar,” said Addleman. “We liked the product they presented, as well as their overall outlook on how solar could be integrated— not only physically in terms of helping out our utility bill, but [also] possibly integrating that in construction and community as well.”

As a general contractor, Chevron Energy Solutions will build, operate, maintain and guarantee the solar panel systems for five years.

“We focus on providing energy efficiency and renewable power solutions to public sector clients,” Chevron Energy Solutions marketing director Juliet Don said. “Our involvement in the process [includes] having a preliminary discussion with our prospective customer around how we might be able to help with energy efficiency [like] here in San Diego, where the climate is very appropriate for solar, as well benefits to using solar.”

With the district’s help, Canyon Crest Academy student government is raising funds for a JumboTron LED display that will show statistics and updates on the project and its progress as well as interesting facts about solar energy. Funds will also come from the California Solar Initiative grants, since the project will be part of the solar facility.

As a site of green innovation, Addleman says, the project provides educational opportunities to students who will get a chance to be part of the construction planning. So far, the projects have generated interest from both students and teachers.

Neighboring San Diego Unified School District’s (SDUSD) solar panel project started in 2000 and spans across 30 sites. Instead of being placed on shade structures, the five-megawatt panels are placed on top of roofs. The estimated savings of the project are about $37 million in roof replacement, maintenance and electricity costs over 20 years.

Currently, the project in its third phase and is considered the largest school district photovoltaic installation project in the country.

                                        

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