Carmel Youth Leaders Focus on Solar for Schools
Today, 1 in 9 students attend a solar-powered school! And there are 136 solar schools in Indiana, including Fishers, Noblesville and Sheridan schools.
Now that the City of Carmel has a Climate Action Plan, Youth Leaders turn their attention to Carmel Clay Schools.
Click here to get involved
As one of the largest consumers of electricity in Carmel, CCS has one of the largest carbon footprints and can make a big difference in helping Carmel meet its climate goals. Switching to solar power reduces the school’s carbon footprint to protect the future for students and show families that CCS cares.
Solar reduces the districts’ environmental impact, saves energy dollars that can be redirected to the classroom and offers real-world applications of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), making these subjects more accessible and inspiring future electricians and engineers.
There are so many reasons to invest in solar!
SOLAR SAVES TAX DOLLARS: Solar schools are growing in Indiana and across the country. Here in Hamilton County, Fishers, Noblesville and Sheridan schools have solar. The Carmel public library has solar. Carmel Utilities has solar. The Hamilton County jail has solar.
COST/BENEFIT: Electricity is one of highest budget items for schools. Solar provides a 30-year fixed cost for energy and protects the school district from rising energy costs. Energy savings from solar can be used in the classroom. For example, solar saved an Arkansas school enough for teachers to get up to $15K in raises.
FEDERAL INCENTIVE: The 30% federal incentive through the IRA makes solar even more affordable for schools, churches, and cities. The Indiana Green Bank can also help with financing.
CURRICULUM: Solar technology is the future. Solar at schools gives students hands-on STEM learning experience, preparing future electricians and engineers.
PROTECTING THE FUTURE FOR STUDENTS: The Carmel Clay School district has the responsibility to protect students and the community by lowering its carbon footprint. Solar is the cleanest energy you can get, right where you need it.
CLEAN AIR & WATER: Solar offsets electricity made from coal combustion which is the greatest source of water and air pollution in Indiana.
PARKING LOT SOLAR CANOPIES: Solar canopies provide welcome shade and shelter from downpours, which helps protect against extreme weather expected to get worse. See some examples
ENERGY SECURITY & RESILIENCE: Solar provides energy security and resilience benefits to the community. Solar production will reduce load on the local grid, helping to maintain grid stability, especially on sweltering summer days when air conditioners are running high. This helps to build the community’s resilience during heat waves which are projected to get hotter and last longer. In addition, solar with battery storage makes communities more resilient against power outages during extreme weather disasters and possible cyber attacks.
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Fishers, Noblesville and Sheridan schools have solar. Here’s their story…
In 2016 Sheridan Community Schools became one of Indiana’s first completely solar powered school systems to manage energy costs.
“We’ll save somewhere in the ballpark of $4 to $5 million over the next 20 years,” says Dave Mundy, superintendent of Sheridan Community Schools.
Next to teachers, energy is one of the district’s largest costs. Almost 20 percent, one of every five district dollars, pays to keep the lights on, buildings warm and computers running. So when the district received a letter forecasting a 7 percent jump in their energy bill, it was significant. The equivalent of half a teacher’s pay. https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/why-this-indiana-school-district-is-going-completely-solar
Over the past several years the cost of energy has gone up at a fairly significant rate. Mundy explained that due to the decision to go to solar power, Sheridan has not seen any of these increases as they are locked into a consistent rate and will have this rate until 2048. According to Mundy, to date, Sheridan’s solar array has produced 11,536,693 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of power, which equates to approximately $1,361,329 of deferred cost savings and energy sell-back for the district.
The 11,536,693 kwh produced to date is equivalent to powering all the homes of Sheridan for a year!
In addition, Mundy shared that the project could create a real-life learning opportunity as Sheridan High School explores starting a Renewable Energy Pathway for students as part of its curriculum.
https://readthereporter.com/sheridans-solar-powered-schools-about-more-than-saving-m
In 2019, HSE installed solar arrays at three different schools (Sand Creek Elementary, Sand Creek
Intermediate and Hamilton Intermediate and Junior High) for a total of 4,800 solar panels at the cost of $2.8 million.
The schools use an average of 3,270,539 kWh of power each year. In 2022, just 846,896 kWh of power was purchased — which saved nearly $350,000 in energy costs. In addition, solar was able to offset a dramatic economic impact when energy rates spiked that year from 8-10 cents to nearly 15 cents per kWh. https://www.thisisfishers.com/hse-solar/
Financed through a four-year bond issue, the $2.8 million solar project is projected to pay for itself in 11 years through electricity cost savings.
The curriculum Ameresco provided will help teachers educate students about the latest innovations in renewable energy technology and the importance of sustainability for the future of our environment. https://www.larryinfishers.com/2019/07/23/solar-power-coming-to-more-hse-schools/
“(The solar panels are) going to help us avoid over $300,000 of utility costs per year, producing energy for schools for more than 30 years,” Bourff said.
“Schools have to operate with an intention to good financial decision-making, but schools exist to educate students, and if we are to see students emerge from our classrooms as thought leaders, change agents and concerned citizens, then we have to turn them loose on problems and challenges that excite their curiosity and arouse their creativity. That’s what this is all about. This project was designed as a component of our curriculum.” https://www.youarecurrent.com/2019/08/29/hamilton-southeastern-schools-flips-the-switch-for-solar-farm/
In 2020, Noblesville installed solar fields at White River Elementary, Promise Road Elementary, Noblesville West Middle School, and the district’s Transportation Center to provide almost all of the energy used by those facilities for a net savings of $7,993,515 over 30 years.
https://www.performanceservices.com/project/noblesville-schools-solar/
“Solar has a huge impact, not only the environmental part, which we believe in, but solar also has a fiscal impact on schools, which is unique to the school system and very beneficial when we want to help our teachers,” said Dr. Mundy Noblesville Schools Associate Supt.
The $3 million project is estimated to annually save the district $250,000 to $300,000 during the next 30 to 40 years that can be used to help with teacher salaries and support staff salaries. That’s a huge deal, especially with the way Indiana finances are being run right now.
The solar panels will be funded through a current bond and will not required a raise in the school tax rate. The project also won’t use referendum dollars.
Throughout the next several decades, school officials say solar energy could save the district between $6 million and $12 million. https://www.youarecurrent.com/2020/02/18/saving-with-solar-noblesville-schools-to-implement-alternative-energy-at-three-locations/
