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New Hampton School to Celebrate Earth Day with Solar Installation
New Hampton School students assisted by the Plymouth Area Renewable Energy Initiative (PAREI) will be installing a solar thermal system on April 22, to celebrate Earth Day. The system will be installed using PAREI’s model of an Energy Raiser fashioned after an Amish barn raising. The students, with the assistance of the school’s facilities department and volunteers from PAREI, will install the system in one day. The system, once installed, will heat water in the Veazey Dorm and eliminate the use of thousands of kilowatt-hours of electricity and tons of carbon per year.
The effort is part of a school-wide initiative led by Husky Green Council, the school’s sustainability organization, to reduce the school’s carbon footprint, limit expenses, allow students to have an opportunity for experiential learning and live the school’s mission of shaping global citizens who understand the local application of global priorities.
“In terms of sustainability and its impact, it’s a small step,” Science faculty member and HGC advisor Rebekka Joslin said. “But it’s a huge step in the right direction in getting people on board with reducing our carbon footprint and our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Junior Mary Penniman (Leominster, Massachusetts) was part of the group that presented the opportunity to the NHS administration.
“What better way to educate kids about sustainable lifestyles than to actually live one?” Penniman said. “By installing these solar panels we will become one of the few prep schools running off of renewable energy in New England. The girls in Veazey dorm will understand what it is like to conserve energy, and feel good about giving back to the environment.”
Penniman sees certain value in bringing the education outside the classroom.
“Solar energy correlates to almost every science course at New Hampton and it will be a great opportunity to bring classes to the actual solar panels and give a concrete lesson on renewable energy right on campus,” Penniman said. “Year after year science classes at New Hampton School learn about sustainable lifestyles and renewable energy in textbooks and on TV screens. This will be the first year where the students will see their lesson in real life!”
Joslin’s ten students will do a considerable amount of the work to install the water heater.
“It involves them getting hands-on, life skills and they might find something that they’re really passionate about,” Joslin said.
The solar thermal system to be installed is a 40 tube Apricus evacuated tube system designed for colder climates. The system will produce over 10 million BTUs and will eliminate the usage of over 3000KWH per year.
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The effort is part of a school-wide initiative led by Husky Green Council, the school’s sustainability organization, to reduce the school’s carbon footprint, limit expenses, allow students to have an opportunity for experiential learning and live the school’s mission of shaping global citizens who understand the local application of global priorities.
“In terms of sustainability and its impact, it’s a small step,” Science faculty member and HGC advisor Rebekka Joslin said. “But it’s a huge step in the right direction in getting people on board with reducing our carbon footprint and our dependence on fossil fuels.”
Junior Mary Penniman (Leominster, Massachusetts) was part of the group that presented the opportunity to the NHS administration.
“What better way to educate kids about sustainable lifestyles than to actually live one?” Penniman said. “By installing these solar panels we will become one of the few prep schools running off of renewable energy in New England. The girls in Veazey dorm will understand what it is like to conserve energy, and feel good about giving back to the environment.”
Penniman sees certain value in bringing the education outside the classroom.
“Solar energy correlates to almost every science course at New Hampton and it will be a great opportunity to bring classes to the actual solar panels and give a concrete lesson on renewable energy right on campus,” Penniman said. “Year after year science classes at New Hampton School learn about sustainable lifestyles and renewable energy in textbooks and on TV screens. This will be the first year where the students will see their lesson in real life!”
Joslin’s ten students will do a considerable amount of the work to install the water heater.
“It involves them getting hands-on, life skills and they might find something that they’re really passionate about,” Joslin said.
The solar thermal system to be installed is a 40 tube Apricus evacuated tube system designed for colder climates. The system will produce over 10 million BTUs and will eliminate the usage of over 3000KWH per year.
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