By Alison Ecklund
Larson Newspapers
Big Park Community School flipped the switch for $41,000 a year savings when it turned on its large scale photovoltaic system Wednesday, May 20.
Big Park is the first of Sedona Oak Creek School District’s three schools to receive solar panels with money from the $73 million bond passed by voters November 2007 and may be the first school in the state to have its own 100,000 kilowatt solar photovoltaic system.
SOCSD contracted with Arizona Public Service Energy Services to install 776 solar panels on two Big Park buildings. The contract, for $2.8 million for energy efficient projects district-wide, allowed $1 million for Big Park’s panels.
The district’s other two schools — Sedona Red Rock High School and West Sedona School — and the district office are set to receive panels of their own with $4 million set aside in the bond.
Arcadis Project Manager Dave Young, who oversees the entire district’s bond construction, said Big Park’s panels will eliminate 30 percent of electrical usage at the school.
Besides reducing the carbon footprint to the environment, the panels will save the school $41,000 a year on electric bills, including $27,000 APS will pay the district for the credits.
Sunny days during the summer and weekends, when school’s not in session, will not go to waste. APS will pay $27,000 per year for the extra renewable energy the panels create.
APS is required by the Arizona Corporation Commission to have 15 percent of its total power generated by renewable energy by 2025, APS Energy Services’ Kevin Gorski said. APS will buy the school’s renewable energy credits to go toward its 15 percent goal.
According to Bob Georgeoff, managing director of APS Energy Services, the carbon emissions saved by installing the solar panels is equivalent to taking 117 cars off the road.
SOCSD has the largest project of any school district to run through the system, Arizona Public Service’s Toney Tewelis told students and staff Wednesday at the solar panel ribbon cutting ceremony.
“In 20 years it will save 3 million kilowatt hours,” he said.
SOCSD Board President Bobbie Surber thanked Young for being the first person to reassure her it would all work as planned.
She also thanked the community for voting for the bond in 2007.
“It was your faith in our students,” she said. “To the students, you’re our future. We’re counting on you to expand on [sustainable] opportunities being developed today.”
For Superintendent Mike Aylstock and Big Park Principal Steve Gardner, the greatest aspect of the solar project is the educational opportunities it presents for the students on green living, renewable resources and sustainable building.
In all three schools and the district office, APS Energy Services installed flat screen monitors students can use to view daily, weekly and monthly electric savings thanks to the energy efficient renovations district-wide.
Schools can check the “green screen” to compete at saving the most energy.
APS Energy Services’ Steve Frost warned Big Park students to check the monitor to make sure their classroom appears green on the screen.
If it appears red, the room is using too much energy, he said, either from adjusting the thermostat or the lights.
“Look for your classroom,” Frost told the students while presenting the screen. “Make sure it’s green.”
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
