Solar Power At School

Blue Wells School Somerset

If you'd like solar power on your school you'll need to persuade your Head Teacher to apply to Solar4schools. Try asking your class teacher if they have heard of Solar4schools and if they are interested in solar energy.

There are a few things you can do to tell if your school is suitable for solar:

ONE - Check that your school is using energy efficiently in order to reduce the amount of solar energy (and the cost of the system) that you need. Solarcentury has some great tips on energy efficiency. Younger kids might want to go to the Energy Hog Busters Training Camp to learn about energy efficiency.

TWO - If you've done as much energy saving as you can, next you need to check out the roof: Use a compass to work out if part of your roof faces south (or at least more south than north). Solar power systems work best if they are facing directly south and can be mounted on frames on flat roofs.

THREE - Check to see if any other buildings (or tall trees) shade the selected area of roof. Really, you don't want anything to shade your solar panels because then they won't make as much energy.

FOUR - Check if there is anything in the way of fitting solar panels to the selected roof area (like a chimney, or other things that poke through the roof) A big open area is best.

FIVE - Measure the roof area you have selected. You can do this by measuring along the ground in line with the roof and multiplying the 'length' and 'width' measurements together to get an area in square meters. If the roof area faces south (ish!) AND is un-shaded AND is larger than 10 square meters, without anything in the way, you're looking good for getting solar on your school.

SIX - Ask your Head Teacher to fill in the application form on the Solar4schools website. You should point out that solar energy system will be half price because the are grants available from the Government. And the solar energy will lower the electricity bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

SEVEN - The Solar4schools teams will come and fit your solar energy system in as little as one day and you'll be minimising your carbon dioxide emissions and saving money straight away!

Good luck!

The Solar4Schools Team