SSS President to Attend Copenhagen
This December marks an important milestone for international climate negotiations. The COP15 also known as the Copenhagen Climate Change Convention will occur from December 5th to 19th with the goal of creating a new non-binding treaty. Adam Raudonis, the founder of Students for Solar Schools, was selected to be one of two American teenagers representing the British Council’s International Climate Champions Program at Copenhagen.
Students for Solar Schools Finalist for SCA Grant
The Students for Solar Schools project at Westlake High School was selected as a finalist for the Student Conservation Association’s Green Your School Award sponsored by the NBC Universal Foundation. The grand prize is a $5000 grant. Please Click here to see the Students for Solar Schools page on the SCA website.
On the Homestretch, Westlake Solar Installation Doubled!
Last Friday marked an important milestone for the Westlake Students for Solar Schools project.
The meeting brought together the district facilities department, Advanced Solar Electric, Tremco Roofing, and Students for Solar Schools. It is humbling to witness all these diverse groups coming together to work towards the common goal of installing solar panels at Westlake. Thanks to a donation from Solar World, and free roof work from Tremco, it was officially confirmed at the meeting that our system size would be more than doubled! What started as a 2.8kW dream, has grown to be a 6.65kW, 36 panel array! This new array will be able to power at least the lights of 5 classrooms and offset 270,000 Lbs of Carbon Dioxide. The new size will also make it the world’s largest student led solar installation!!!
Westlake SSS holds record Fundraiser!
On October 6th, Students f
or Solar Schools held a fundraiser at the Sea Casa Restaurant from 4 to 9 pm. Westlake SSS earned over $600, making it the most successful fundraising night the restaurant has ever seen. The owner told me that at one point a line stretched completely around the buildings. They even ran out of rice and beans! 25% of the revenue went directly toward the SSS project at Westlake High School. This was our second to last fundraiser as we prepare to place our order for the panels!
SSS President Interviews Mayor Villaraigosa
At the Governor’s Global Climate Summit I had the opportunity to interview Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa about Climate Change and Solar Schools Initiatives in LA.
SSS Goes International with Canadian Chapter!
Students for Solar Schools gains its first international chapter thanks to Alanna, a Canadian International Climate Champion from Swift Current, Saskatchewan who plans on starting a solar initiative at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School. She hopes to use her Take Action Club, which she is head of, as a resource for furthering her solar initiative. SCCHS has about 1000 students.
SSS to present to Westlake Rotary Club
Students for Solar Schools has been invited to give a short presentation to the Westlake Village Sunrise Rotary Club next Friday, September 11th. Adam Raudonis and Lisa Peng will again be representing Westlake’s SSS at the event.
Student Green Group in Oregon Joins SSS Network
Students for Solar Schools will be working with Corvallis High School as they make progress towards the ambitious goal of a 100kW system for their campus. The student led initiative there received a $20,000 Walmart Grant, which will go towards the first 10kW of PV solar to be installed. Please visit the Green CHS we
bsite to learn more about the project a
nd donate or become a partner. The 10kW per year philosophy, has the advantage of ensuring that many generations of students will have the opportunity to become leaders in pursuing renewable energy.
SSS speaks at Westlake Business Connections
Students for Solar Schools founder Adam Raudonis and VP Lisa Peng were invited to present their story about creating and developing SSS at the Westlake Business Connections meeting. The event’s theme is “Growing Business by Networking People.” The nationwide network Students for Solar Schools has built is what makes our project truly unique. As the Westlake High Solar Initiative nears completion, even more energy will be able to be devoted to helping other schools follow our model, and making sure each SSS leader is connected with fellow SSS members across the country. Thanks to Mr. Hellebrand for inviting us to the meeting!
Students for Solar Schools Launches in Missouri!
Today’s start up of the Students for Solar Schools Initiative at Whitfield High School in St. Louis, Missouri marks the 12th solar initiative started under SSS. Jessica Smasal, is just getting started but plans to meet with school, county, and city representatives ove
r the coming weeks. She also plans to work closely with Marissa and Codyrose on the project. Whitfield School is a small private school which means collaboration with the school administration should be relatively easy. The team also plans on possibly working with Missouri Schools Going Solar which has already installed 17 arrays at schools across the state.
Students for Solar Schools receives $1000 grant
Thanks to the California Climate Champions Program, in partnership with the British Council, the CA Air Resources Board, and Next 10, Students for Solar Schools, led by Climate Champion Adam Raudonis, received the $1000 CCC grant award in the mail today. This money will go towards the PV sol
ar project at Westlake High School. Students for Solar Schools is very grateful for these funds, and they will go a long way towards making the Westlake project a success. Thanks again!
Economic Importance of Solar Schools
According to information from the Department of Energy, public schools nationwide are “spending more than $8 billion per year on energy.” Extrapolating historical trends of energy cost per kilowatt hour in California, it’s easy to see how energy expenses can go even higher if schools do not generate renewable energy and adopt efficiency measures. The graph is of residential and commercial rates. School rates are often slightly padded, but they are not immune to rate increases.
Anitoch High to Apply for Solar Grant
Over the next few months, Students for Solar Schools plans on helping Elizabeth Valencia applying for the PG&E Solar Schools grant. The school is in the utility company PG&E’s territory. This means that they can apply for a 1kW solar display system under their Solar Schools program. We will continue to help the school through out the process and hopefully they will be one of 40 schools chosen for the solar panel grant.
SSS, Adam Receive Carrot of the Month
Students for Solar Schools along with its founder Adam Raudonis were featured in the latest edition of Vegetarian Times. You can read the full article (and who got Stick of the Month) by downloading the attachment. VegetarianTimes
SSS Receives Greenopolis Grant
Today Students for Solar Schools was awarded a $250 grant from the Greenopolis Foundation. Every bit helps in adding to our solar panel fund. Next week, we will also be applying for two more grants and awaiting the results in the coming few months. These funds will go towards the solar panel project at Westlake High School.
View Villa Park’s Successful Solar Pilot
Visit Villa Park’s Page to learn more about Senior Brandon Bak’s successful solar pilot project. He obtained a $5000 grant from BP solar and used the funds for a small PV solar installation to demonstrate to his school district the feasibility of the technology. He is looking for a student at his school to continue the effort and expand the use of solar in the district. SSS will do its best to ensure that any future edeavor will have as much resources available as possible and that other schools can copy the model Brandon established.
New Local Pitch
Students for Solar Schools is constantly working on creating new pitches and presentations for Westlake and for other schools to use. The pitch below is for westlake. Please also check back soon as we will be completely redoing the plan page for the SSS website.
Thousand Oaks Youth Commission Presentation
Last week I gave a presentation about Students for Solar Schools to the Thousand Oaks Youth Commission. This is the first official presentation I’ve given about SSS. You can watch the second half (where I answer some questions here) Part 2
Westlake/District Solar Meeting Organized
This past week a very important meeting was arranged between the principal of Westlake, the Director of Planning & Facilities, his maintenance staff, and the CEO of Solar Electrical Systems Greg Johanson. We discussed the specifics of cost, roofing requirements, inspection, and approval through the State Architect. Essentially, once SSS raises the necessary $11,000 we will see solar panels on the roof shortly after. The main problem we found was that most of the incentives for solar (that bring the cost down almost by a factor of 4) are tax-incentives. Since Westlake High School is a non-profit by default, it does not gain any monetary benefit from such tax incentives. One thing we are currently looking into is a third-party generating agreement or mini-PPA where a for-profit entity, such as an LLC, local business or individual would lease the system to the school for free and agree to give back the tax incentives over 5 years. Stay tuned for more!
Puerto Rico School Joins SSS Movement
This week, I am happy to annouce that David Soto from the Dorado Academy in Dorado, Puerto Rico has officially started his campaign for solar panels at his school and possibly a few other local private schools. He has already met with his local solar company and will be meeting with the Mayor and School Board in the future. Please view Schools, and then Dorado Academy to learn more about the progress of this chapter. Stay tuned for more updates. Remember to visit the Download page for pitches, templates, and presentations you can use at your school.
Students for Solar Schools 