Long Branch School District Adding Solar Panels To Its Buildings

The Long Branch school district is looking to become more energy efficient and is currently outfitting its buildings with solar panels.

"We are trying to, as a district, be more efficient with our utility consumption," Long Branch School District Superintendent Michael Salvatore said.

Workers began installing solar panels on the roof of the Gregory School in late spring.

"It didn't generate savings until August when they flipped the switch," Salvatore said. "It's a small site for solar, but when I saw the savings, I couldn't believe it."

Salvatore said the school saw a $2,000 drop in its energy bill in August, 2011 compared to August, 2010.

By utilizing the solar panels, the district is also receiving solar renewable energy credits, which could generate money for the schools.

"We're seeing savings in electricity, but we're also storing (solar renewable energy credits) so we can sell them back to energy companies," Salvatore said. "We could make $10 million in revenue over 9 years by selling credits."

"Going forward, if we can reduce our energy consumption and generate revenue, it's a win-win," he continued.

Salvatore said the project will cost the district $10 million and that it will be paid in installments over the next 5-6 years.

"We're fortunate to have the budget to explore these type of projects," Salvatore said. "It's an investment, but it does come back to the district, and we are talking about decades of savings."

The district hired RAI Energy International to handle the installation of all its solar panels. The company has also provided the district with kiosks that show energy savings and can be used to "educate students about the solar energy process," according to Salvatore.

The Gregory School is just the beginning of the project for the district, as workers are currently installing solar panels on most of the schools.

The high school and middle school have been outfitted with solar panels and there are also solar canopies being installed in the parking lots of the schools.

The Morris Avenue School, Amerigo A. Anastasia School and the Long Branch Board of Education Office on Broadway also have solar panels on their roofs. All of these locations have not yet generating solar energy as the panels have not been activated. Salvatore said he expects all the panels to be activated soon.

"Morris Avenue School has lots of flat roof and will be our largest revenue source," Salvatore said.

He said the benefit of buildings with flat roofs is that they receive the most sunlight which allows the panels to gather more solar power. He said the panels also help protect the roofs of the buildings from weather damage.