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Recently renovated Glenville Elementary School now boasts state-of-the-art rooftop solar panels that could serve as learning tools of sorts. Conservation Director Denise Savageau says the town will study energy savings from the panels with an eye to installing them on other town buildings.
The new technology is expected to reduce the town's carbon emissions by 114,032 pounds a year, according to Jerry Charlup of Stamford-based American Solar and Alternative Power (ASAP), which was a consultant on the project.
"This is the equivalent to planting 15.4 acres of trees each year over its anticipated lifetime of 25 years," he said.
The solar panel system will also allow Glenville pupils to learn more about green technology and the benefits of solar energy. Savageau hopes students will be able to monitor and compare the amount of energy the panels produce.
The school's roof is now equipped with a Building Integrated Photovoltaic system equipped with 97.5 kW Solyndra Photovoltaic modules. The building is also outfitted with a Sika Sarnafil Cool Roof that reduces the amount of energy the building consumes. The Solyndra panels are to capture light that is reflected off the roof.
Greenwich received a $627,500 state grant for the energy project.
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