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In East Contra Costa County, the Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy to power its school operations.
The district partnered with CSI to develop a renewable energy program that would not only generate clean energy but also incorporate it into the students’ educational curriculum.
CSI proposed a unique approach to the project, incorporating a bioswale to harvest solar energy without interfering with natural vegetation growth.
The new technology featured bright red semi-translucent solar panels that cover the entire bioswale, a stormwater retention area that relies upon native plant growth. This solar technology allows light to pass through the panels and nourish the plants below.
Additionally, 4-10kW vertical-axis, low-noise, bi-directional wind turbines were installed to produce another 200kW of energy.
The solar installation, combined with the additional district solar arrays, provided the administrative headquarters with 53% of its energy needs.
The district estimated it saved approximately $6.2M in energy costs to date, at an average cost of $0.19/kWh.
What sets this project apart is its incorporation of the renewable energy program into the student’s educational curriculum. The Bioswale Integrative Energy Project serves as an outdoor hands-on Learning Center for students and the general public. PUSD aims to lead its staff, students, and community in matters of sustainability and energy conservation, and the Learning Center is an excellent opportunity for students to see firsthand how solar and wind power can generate energy to power their schools.
PUSD is not only succeeding in getting students involved but also leading by example in their surrounding community.
The district is setting policies and standards that can be emulated and replicated by other school districts and public agencies. CSI is proud to be a part of this project and continues to support PUSD in its vision to create a more sustainable future.
In East Contra Costa County, the Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) made a commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by investing in renewable energy to power its school operations.
The district partnered with CSI to develop a renewable energy program that would not only generate clean energy but also incorporate it into the students’ educational curriculum.
CSI proposed a unique approach to the project, incorporating a bioswale to harvest solar energy without interfering with natural vegetation growth.
The new technology featured bright red semi-translucent solar panels that cover the entire bioswale, a stormwater retention area that relies upon native plant growth. This solar technology allows light to pass through the panels and nourish the plants below.
Additionally, 4-10kW vertical-axis, low-noise, bi-directional wind turbines were installed to produce another 200kW of energy.
The solar installation, combined with the additional district solar arrays, provided the administrative headquarters with 53% of its energy needs.
The district estimated it saved approximately $6.2M in energy costs to date, at an average cost of $0.19/kWh.
What sets this project apart is its incorporation of the renewable energy program into the student’s educational curriculum. The Bioswale Integrative Energy Project serves as an outdoor hands-on Learning Center for students and the general public. PUSD aims to lead its staff, students, and community in matters of sustainability and energy conservation, and the Learning Center is an excellent opportunity for students to see firsthand how solar and wind power can generate energy to power their schools.
PUSD is not only succeeding in getting students involved but also leading by example in their surrounding community.
The district is setting policies and standards that can be emulated and replicated by other school districts and public agencies. CSI is proud to be a part of this project and continues to support PUSD in its vision to create a more sustainable future.
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