TEXAS: Trinity Episcopal School completes largest solar panel array in Austin

November 13, 2009 [Trinity Episcopal School] Trinity Episcopal School in Austin, Texas recently completed the installation of 135 solar panels on the roof of its Blue House Hall, adding to the 135 panels that were installed last fall.

Trinity, a Diocese of Texas-affiliated school, is now home to the largest commercial solar installation in Austin.

The panels were paid for by a gift from a new Trinity family to promote alternative energy and environmental initiatives on the 15-acre campus. The panels are projected to save the school between $9,000 and $10,000 in electricity costs each year. The Texas Solar Power Co. installed the system and projects that it will prevent more than 81,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere each year -- the equivalent of planting 70 acres of forest in Austin’s parks. 

"Trinity is very fortunate to have received this generous gift dedicated to energy efficiency and environmental awareness," said Head of School Pat Adams. "In addition to allowing the school to devote more resources to the classroom as a result of the cost savings, these initiatives also set a powerful example and offer a valuable teaching tool for our students.
 
"Even more powerful than those practical applications is the example of an entire community making a visible effort to be responsible stewards of our environment. Trinity students will grow up with a sense of responsibility for the world around them, and with a concrete example of the power of science and technology -- what a magnificent legacy for years to come."
 
Last year the school was one of five recipients of the Longhorn Recycle Roundup, which recognizes K-12 schools in the Austin area that have ongoing recycling programs and offer innovative ways to educate students on the importance and benefits of recycling and good stewardship. A few of Trinity’s other "green" initiatives include: 

• eliminating plastic water bottles from its hot lunch service, an estimated reduction of 1,500 bottles per week.
• conducting an end-of-year school supply drive, which yields about 400 lbs. of paper goods and textbooks, thousands of crayons, pens, and markers, calculators, binders, and notebooks. The supplies are donated locally and shipped to a school in Ghana, Africa.
• having the 7th grade class at Trinity is responsible for the entire school’s recycling, and each week collects paper, glass, aluminum and plastic.
• installing motion sensors on lights in the school’s common areas, and replacing 23 thermostats around the campus with new high-efficiency programmable units. These two small changes are estimated to save the school an additional $6,000 - $7,000 each year.
• reducing by about 75 percent the amount of paper that gets sent home to parents.
• helping first graders to set up and maintain a compost pile after an in-depth study of soil and the environment.
• helping a fourth grader who began the Eco Eating Club that brings reusable plastic containers to school each day for use in hot lunch service.

Trinity Episcopal School Facilities Manager Dale Blankenship is already brainstorming other ways to reduce the school’s use of natural resources. "We are only at the beginning of this process," he said. "The example we’re setting for our students is priceless."

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