Collegiate School
The first K-12 school to install solar on campus in Richmond, VA
In September 2018, the Collegiate School began its investment in solar. Collegiate’s solar arrays produce enough clean energy to power the equivalent of about 100 average American homes, while avoiding as much carbon dioxide as would be sequestered by 164 acres of U.S. forests.
Making this impact through on-site solar power helps Collegiate meet its sustainability goals. When it comes to going green, the school follows the four guiding principles of the Center for Ecoliteracy’s “Smart by Nature” framework, which provides a structure for how educators can teach environmental sustainability: Nature is our teacher; Sustainability is a community practice; The real world is the optimal learning environment; Sustainable living is rooted in a deep knowledge of place. Installing on-site solar is a tangible sign that Collegiate is living up to and even exceeding its sustainability commitments. Solar arrays right on campus bring sustainable principles into students’ learning environment.
LIVE ENERGY MONITORING
The Challenge
Install a new solar power system with no upfront costs
The Result
Through a power purchase agreement, with no upfront capital cost and no additional cost for electricity, four arrays installed on two separate campuses have a total capacity of 94 kilowatts