Features
Main Features
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Construction Options
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Solar Electric Panels
When most people envision solar energy, bulky and fragile crystalline panels are the first thing to come to mind. Yet in the past decade, there has been an important shift in the solar industry towards thinfilm photovoltaic panels. U.S. thin-film production, which as recently as 2001 was negligible, overtook crystalline production in 2008. The production of thin-film panels requires significantly less material than that of crystalline panels, thereby reducing production cost. In fact, a thin-film panel's active area is only 1-10 micrometers thick, compared to that of a crystalline panel which typically measures 100-300 micrometers. In addition to the reduced material needs, thin-film panel manufacturing lends itself to mass production, further reducing costs.
ICLS Lighting System (optional)
The system features "efficient fixtures, high efficiency fluorescent light sources, and user friendly controls." The goal of the system is for instructors to be able to provide light when and where it is needed, thereby saving energy from the use of unnecessary light. The ICLS is offered by Finelight Inc. It is estimated that the ICLS can cut energy usage by 35-50%.
Green Apple Classrooms
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Grid Neutral Portable ClassroomsAs an alternative to the standard "Brick and Mortar" classroom, Portables or relocatables are a popular, inexpensive solution. The Green Apple adds a new standard.by becoming one of the first relocatable classrooms to generate all it's required electricity through the PV film attached to it's roof. Through Net-Metering the Green Apple, under most conditions, will generate more electricity than it will require on an annual basis. An Education and Environmental IssueIt is no secret that California's schools are overcrowded. As the state struggles to accommodate nearly 6.2* million school-aged children, portable classrooms have become increasingly popular. Estimates suggest the state is quickly approaching 100,000** portables in use. Usually considered a temporary solution, portable classrooms have quickly become a permanent problem for California as the units are notorious energy hogs. Green Apple Classrooms address this important issue by creating energy-efficient portable classrooms which are powered by the sun. * www.edsource.org/sys_students.html, ** based on a CARB survey 2003 (ARB Contr#00317) A Clean Energy SolutionAn advanced HVAC unit, state-of-the-art lighting system, and increased insulation all reduce the unit's energy demands. To meet these lowered demands, we employ an array of amorphous silicon thin-film photovoltaic panels on the roof of the units. The result is a classroom which generates as much energy as it consumes. For California taxpayers, it means an annual energy savings of $22.3 million if the state eventually replaces a quarter of the current portable fleet with energy-efficient, solar-powered classrooms. And finally, for the planet it means an emissions savings of over 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. |