Carrollton students scrutinize high school's energy use

CARROLLTON - Students in the high school Physics 2 and Calculus classes completed a two-month study of the school's energy needs and made a presentation to the School Board about their findings.

After looking at alternative energy sources, solar, wind and geothermal, the seniors in Mike Scott's Physics 2 class and Pat Dugas' Calculus class recommended solar power as the best option for the high school.

The two classes started off asking how the school can increase its energy independence. The first graph showed projected energy costs through 2030 growing from about $36,000 to more than $46,000.

The students figured out how many kilowatt-hours would be needed and the size of the solar panels necessary to generate that power when looking at solar power for the school. If 335-watt panels were used, the school would need 403 panels and 9,277 square feet of space to set up the panels. Low maintenance and insurance costs for solar and the long life of the system, 25 to 40 years, made solar the first choice, even though start-up costs are high, the "climate here isn't ideal" and there is a 15-year payback period.

The students also questioned whether the Carrollton High School roof could support the panels. A roof ballast-mounted system would run $771,840, the study showed, but because of the age of the roof, students suggested choosing solar trees to mount the solar panels at a cost of $836,160. Geothermal was the most expensive of the options looked at with a price tag of $1,040,696, and the students noted the fact that the area does not have the right terrain or soil type for the geothermal process. Wind power was deemed too expensive because of start-up and maintenance costs.

"It was an extremely well-done presentation. I was impressed by the depth of their material," said Carrollton School District Superintendent Beth Pressler. "It was very cool. They gave us some common-sense ways to save money. It was a good study, and the students had to think deeply about it. It was exciting."

While the students concluded that solar power was the best option, they conceded it is too expensive at this time.

In other action Monday, the School Board approved the annual tax levy. The estimated levy is $1,783,491. The total tax levy increase is 4.44 percent without debt service. The aggregate amount levied for debt service is 99.9 percent of the 2010 extensions. The aggregate levy increase is 4.99 percent.

Pressler explained changes in the immunization process implemented by the state to protect infants from pertussis disease.

"Beginning with school year 2011-2012, any child entering sixth grade shall show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap (defined as tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine, regardless of the interval since the last DTap," Pressler explained. "Students in grades seventh through 12th who have not already received Tdap are required to receive the Tdap dose."

Because of holidays in January and February, the board voted to change the dates of board meetings. The next board meeting will be Jan. 23, and the following month the meeting will be Feb. 27. The School Board normally meets the third Monday of the month.

The board accepted the resignation of teaching assistant Alice McAdams, effective Dec. 5.

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Source: http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/school-63623-solar-students.html

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