Ridgefield is nearing completion of a project to install solar panels on all schools and some buildings to save Ridgefield up to $4 million in energy costs over the next 20 years.
The ongoing work is expected to be completed by the end of this year at no cost to the city.
Ridgefield School Superintendent Susie Da Silva said the school district is excited to continue its partnership with the city's Energy Task Force. "Together we are always looking for ways to help the community financially and for Mother Earth."
Installation began at Branchville Elementary School adjacent to Ridgefield High to bring the solar panels online. The work is to be completed in the summer and will replace the summer courses.
Each school produces enough electricity to power 13 homes for a year, according to Dwayne Eskola of Ridgefield, chair of the city's energy task force.
According to him, each house consumes 150,000 kilowatt hours per year.
“The roof of the grammar school is unique. It produces enough electricity to light 32 houses for a year,” says Escola.
Electricity from solar panels is used in schools.
history of the project
Escola said the project started six years ago at Farmingville Elementary School.
Solar panels have been installed on the roofs of Scotts Ridge Middle School and Mount Barlow Elementary School for several years.
So far, solar panels have been installed at seven schools and two city buildings, the Yanti Gym and the Venus City Building on East Ridge Road. This silicone sheet is guaranteed for 25 years.
"In the 10 years I've been on the job, the efficiency of solar panels has doubled," said Escola, a retired solar company owner who helped with city planning and managed applications for the project.
As part of this project, a series of large canopies will be erected over 285 of Lake Ridgefield's 334 student spaces. The solar panels are then placed on the roof.
Escola says the cover is "a huge project". “The sun canopy is 4 meters from the car park so cars and buses can pass underneath. The soft top covers cars and protects them from snow in winter.
In addition, a second solar panel is expected to be installed at Mount Barlow Elementary this summer.
"It's a big school and it uses a lot of electricity," Escola said. "There's more space on the roof."
save money
Solar panel projects are funded by private investors who pay for installation and maintenance costs.
"Investors pay for materials and labor, all license fees, etc. and keep the system for 20 years," Escola said. Cities offer roofs or parking lots in exchange for cheap electricity. Investors receive a 30 percent tax credit and can reduce their taxable value. They receive a share of the solar power production from the city in the form of a certain fee. "
"You get a very high return on investment for that," he said. Your internal rate of return on those investments is 10-12 percent."
According to him, the average savings per school in the city is $15-20,000 a year.
"That's a fixed price for 20 years. “Every year when inflation starts, we start saving more.
But that should be enough to save just $4 million over the next 20 years.
The high school's canopy produces more than a million kilowatts of electricity a year, Escola said.
"If we put all these solar systems in place...then we'll have enough electricity to heat 250 homes," he said.
