News

KENMORE, NY — A new teaching tool at St. Joe's Collegiate Institute is challenging young minds, while saving thousands of dollars on energy costs.

Actions can speak louder than words in textbooks. That's why St. Joe's has brought solar energy right into the school.

The 108 solar panels on the roof of St. Joe's were put there for two reasons. One reason is to save money on the yearly electric bill.

Jim Walters of Solar Liberty said, "They should save about $3,000, according to today's prices."

And the second reason is to beam in a little knowledge directly to the students. A new LED screen gives students a glimpse of the impact the solar panels are making in their school.

St. Joe's President Robert Scott said, "They're going to be able to see how it works, and I think that in itself is going to be able to not only educate them, but excite them more about the possibilities."

There's even a weather station near the solar panels on the roof that links energy production to weather conditions.

Science teacher Anthony Shilen said, "It gives kids an example of alternative energies in use, and hopefully, it will get them thinking about where we need to be in forty years in response to solar energy."

David Bianchi, a senior at St. Joe's, says the solar awareness already has him thinking.

"It really makes you feel that you have responsibility to do whatever little think you can to help conserve energy. Just recycling at home, or just something like that," said Bianchi.

Walters, whose Solar Liberty company is also installing 3,000 solar panels on UB's north campus, says no energy is wasted and institutions can even get credits from utilities if the energy isn't used.

Walters said, "Anything left over, on a Sunday for example, would flow back out through their meter, and they would get credit for it."

The St. Joe's solar project was made possible by a grant from NYSERDA and from a private donor. Solar Liberty says there are state incentives and tax credits that pay for at least two-thirds of the installation costs for businesses and homeowners.

If you want to learn more about solar energy, follow this link.