Campaign for Sustainability: Phase II
With Phase I projects completed in 2014—including geothermal energy, control and monitoring systems, air handling system, insulation, and roof—Bethany is now ready to move into Phase II projects of its energy conservation strategy funded by the Capital Campaign for Sustainability and a grant from Indiana’s Office of Energy Development.
Phase II
Phase II includes plans to install 300 solar panels and a wind turbine on the school roof to generate renewable energy. Once both phases are completed, Bethany’s energy footprint will be much smaller.
Installation
Solar panels $240,992
Wind turbine $58,712
Total $299,704
Est. annual output in kilowatt hours
Solar energy 95,304
Wind energy 3,800
Combined 99,104
Estimated annual utility savings
(@ $0.12 per kWh)
solar/wind $11,892
Financial and Environmental Benefits
Reduced energy costs due to dramatically decreasing the amount of electricity, water, and gas that Bethany uses are estimated to save $50,000 per year in utility costs—$12,000 from Phase II projects. Additionally, lower operating costs will help keep tuition more affordable.
Generating solar and wind energy—and using less energy that is generated by burning coal—will help reduce fossil fuel emissions that benefit the local and regional community.
Curriculum Opportunities
Inspiring students to appreciate the value of environmental conservation is an important value at Bethany. Ninth grade students in the innovative Environmental Science class already research the impact of mountaintop mining for coal, complete an energy audit at their home, and tour a solar panel installation at a residential location. The addition of solar panels, a wind turbine, and an energy monitoring system at school will provide additional real-life materials for student lessons, and will also be visible reminders for them on a daily basis.
Other classes might also develop lessons using data from the monitoring system dashboard that will be displayed on a screen inside the school and on the web. For example, physics students might analyze trends and the impacts of how the school building is used by investigating questions such as, “What is the energy usage impact of a basketball game compared to a normal school day?”
Math and economics classes may calculate and compare the return on investment for the wind and solar energy modes. Students in fourth through eighth grade can also learn about renewable energy in ways that are appropriate to their level and their science curriculum.
Educating Beyond Bethany
With this project Bethany can facilitate public awareness about the value of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in the community.
Partnering with next-door neighbor Waterford Elementary School allows Bethany to introduce the next generation to concepts about the relationship between humans and the environment through facility tours and age-appropriate activities about renewable energy. At the same time Bethany students learn the material more thoroughly as they teach younger students and engage the topic in creative ways.
Bethany will provide occasions for adults in the community to tour the equipment and learn about renewable energy. In 2016 Indiana-Michigan Mennonite Conference will hold its annual sessions at Bethany, incorporating tours and educational opportunities such as seminars related to use of wind and solar power.
Bethany plans to share its experiences and best practices with interested parties, including a number of businesses who have contributed funding to this project and are interested in seeing the results as they consider options for their own operations. Finally, this project helps differentiate Bethany as a leading-edge educational institution. It provides Bethany an opportunity to demonstrate earthcare values, and by promoting sustainability to help ensure a brighter future for generations to come.