Dimmitt Middle School is the first in the Renton School District to receive solar panels.
The long-awaited panels, which will also be installed at Hazen High School, were paid for by two $25,000 grants and will be primarily used for education. They arrived on Sept. 30.
“The overall goal is to promote renewable energy and demonstrate its viability,” said Jonathan Stine, the district’s Resource Conservation and Safety Manager. “It’s really geared toward the science classes.”
Dimmitt’s 12 panels, which were paid for with a $25,000 grant from Seattle City Light, produce about 215 watts each. It’s about enough energy to power an average single-family home.
Whereas, Hazen’s $25,000 grant from Puget Sound Energy will provide 9 panels, producing about 224 watts each.
However, the projects won’t do much to reduce the school’s energy bills.
“The energy from this demonstration project is just a tiny little drop in the bucket,” Stine said.
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), based in Portland, organized both the construction and education aspects of the project.
A&R Solar installed the panels using clamps on the metal south-facing gym roof.
By facing south, the panels maximize potential sun exposure. They’re also visible from the school’s front entrance. However, a long-look might give one a kink the neck.
The heavy power converter was mounted on the gym wall behind the stage. A small reader shows the panel’s energy output, before the energy dumps into the electrical system.
The district also plans to post a live feed of the panel’s power output on the school’s Web site.
“Kids today expect that kind of accessibility,” Stine said.
Weather stations will also be installed alongside the solar panels.
The teachers will begin their training when Hazen High School receives its panels. However, the district doesn’t know for sure when the panels will be installed.
About a third of the grant money will pay for training science teachers about the panels and how to incorporate them into curriculum for students.
Dimmitt’s panels cost about $1,600 per panel installed, or about $19,200 total, and Hazen’s are expected to cost about $1,800 per panel, or about $16,200 total.
