Westtown School Uses Solar Energy to Generate Electricity and Student Knowledge

Newly installed solar PV panels incorporated into classroom learning

Westtown, PA– With a commitment to renewable energy at the core of its mission, Westtown School turned to groSolar, a Vermont-based solar energy provider, to bring sustainability education to the classroom.

With its pastoral surroundings, stately brick buildings and a proud history dating back to the 1700s, the school might seem an unlikely place to be on the cutting edge of renewable energy. Last month’s installation of a 40-kilowatt solar power system brings the prestigious school decidedly into the 21st century, using new technologies to generate electricity and educate its students.

The solar power system was installed on top of the Chester County school’s new athletic center and is expected to generate 50,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. The system also provides countless classroom learning opportunities, many of which are already being explored.

“Sustainability is becoming a unifying theme that connects virtually every discipline,” said Judy Nicholson Asselin, sustainability coordinator for the co-ed college preparatory day and boarding school. “Math classes are currently using the solar data to create simple arithmetic problems in the lower grades. History classes have taken a tour of the panels and learned how they work as part of their study of the Industrial Revolution and the Green Revolution that will in many respects define their lifetimes. Even religion teachers incorporate the ideas of stewardship of the earth in their class discussions.”

These and other learning tools are made possible by an internet-based monitoring system that is viewable on the school’s website at www.westtown.edu, and displayed in a kiosk located in the athletic center lobby.

Teachers, students and website visitors can use the monitoring system to track in real time just how much electricity the glass-encased photovoltaic cells are producing. Likewise, the system also tallies how many pounds of greenhouse gases have been avoided by the use of renewable energy.

“This is a great teaching tool for Westtown School,” said Jeff Wolfe, CEO of groSolar, whose Maryland-based subsidiary Chesapeake Solar designed and installed the system. “Not only will students learn about how solar power works, but they’ll get a better understanding of the economics of renewable energy. Teaching the future generation is critical as we work to build a green economy and green culture. Our company was very proud to be a part of this project.”

Supported by a $145,000 grant from Pennsylvania’s Energy Harvest program and matched by a group of anonymous donors, the solar power project is part of the school’s environmental mission to protect the environment through its teaching and institutional practices.

“At Westtown, we’re committed to a greener future for our young people and our world,” said Head of School John Baird. “The new solar panels are a visible reminder of the many sustainable initiatives the school community is engaged in.”

For groSolar, the project also serves as a visible reminder of its continued growth. The Westtown School project is the company’s first in Pennsylvania and underscores groSolar’s national reach.

“Each new state we enter is a big milestone for us because we are convinced that solar power is exactly what our country needs right now in order to confront the economic and environmental challenges we face,” said Wolfe.

About groSolar
groSolar is North America’s premier distributor, installer and integrator of solar energy solutions for residential and commercial installations. Founded in 1998, groSolar now encompass offices and warehouses across the continent, distributing solar electric and solar hot water systems from offices in Vermont, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Colorado, Oregon, Montana, California and Canada. groSolar integrates components from leading solar manufacturers including Evergreen Solar, PanelClaw, Motech, Suntech, Heliodyne, SMA, Fronius and UniRac into simple solar energy systems for customers that generate clean, reliable energy for decades. groSolar is a mission-driven company dedicated to providing high quality solar energy solutions and whole energy appreciation. Learn more at groSolar.com or call 800.374.4494 from 8am – 5pm EST.

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