Up to half of Christopher High School’s electricity could be
generated by solar panels
Gilroy – The school board may take advantage of this sun-drenched city by approving the installation of solar panels on the new high school, a move that supporters of the alternative energy claim could save the school district bundles of cash down the road.
The Gilroy Unified School District Environmental Oversight Committee, the entity spearheading the effort, has raised the funding to install enough panels to generate about one-quarter of electricity for Christopher High School, but they’re hoping to raise the cash to install enough panels to cover half of the total electrical costs, Committee Chair Christopher Cote said.
The remainder of the cost for the solar array will be covered through state and federal funds, Cote said.
On Friday, the committee presented the solar array plan as part of their first presentation. If approved by the GUSD board, the solar array will be the largest of any public or private structure, within this region, Cote said.
“It’s our hope that the board will accept this,” he said.
Cote explained that home and business owners are reluctant to embrace solar energy because of the high upfront costs. For one home the cost can run from between $20,000 and $30,000, but the sun-powered energy does pay off in about eight years and the panels last about 25 years, Cote said.
The district spends about 1.6 percent of its budget on electricity but the committee has not furnished the board a report that breaks down of exactly how much the district would save with the solar array.
District Superintendent Edwin Diaz said the Christopher High Steering Committee, the group overseeing construction of the new school, will discuss the issue at its next meeting and may ask for it to be placed on the board agenda.
“It seems like there’s a good opportunity, not only to be more energy efficient and save some dollars but to provide a real-life experience for the kids,” Diaz said.
If the rest of the school board follows the lead of Vice President Tom Bundros, the solar array is sure to see daylight. Bundros said he’s excited about the prospect and that he would approve a resolution to install the solar panels at Christopher High.
“The assumption here is that they’re going to be donating the materials …” he said. “If that’s the case then I don’t see any reason not to accept it.”
The two draws are that not only will the district save money by installing the panels but the alternative energy will also provide educational value, Bundros said. The technology and ties to science are likely to interest many kids.
But one district official, who asked to remain anonymous, said it’s unlikely that the solar power will save the district any cash because the upfront costs will far exceed how much energy is produced. Also, the official said, the committee will have to prove that installing the panels will not negatively impact the district’s budget before presenting the item to the board.
Gilroy High School students Carly Apuzzo and Michael Stevens, who are both Environmental Oversight Committee representatives, opened the Friday evening presentation by talking about what the group has accomplished during its first year of existence.
The committee was established a year ago in an effort to improve Gilroy’s natural surroundings and to bring environmental education to local students. One change that took place this year, is the group developed a recycling program at every district school site, with the financial aide of South Valley Recycling.
The committee also staged monthly meetings to discuss the health hazards of mold in the classroom and indoor air quality of Gilroy students. The group recommended that the district consider installing replacement carpet that doesn’t contain chemicals, such as formaldehyde, that may increase asthma or other respiratory illnesses.
