Joined by several community partners, Ellis Elementary officially turned on their solar panels on Friday, April 24. The panels were installed last year by Adobe Solar as a result of the school’s partnership with FrontRange Earth Force and Earth Day Network. Over the life of the panels, they will see an estimated $50,000 savings in energy usage. The students will be able to monitor the use of the panels and compare it to other schools and businesses around the country using a web-based system at www.fatspaniel.com.
The “ribbon cutting” ceremony kicked off an afternoon of festivities. Earth Force students showcased their service learning projects in a mini-Summit. Classes gave short presentations on issues such as traffic safety, storm drain pollution and the use of plastic bags.
Ninth grade students from Denver Venture High School led students through outdoor games and activities and grade levels rotated through several interactive stations. From chickens in the city to tossing mozzarella, a number of partners shared their expertise with students, including an urban farmer, solar oven chefs, a solar toy inventor, and a master cheese maker.
For video of the ribbon-cutting, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQwetmI7OZ0.