Avon Old Farms School Adds 692 Solar Panels

Connecticut's Avon Old Farms School Adds 692 Solar Panels

Avon Old Farms School was the ninth school in Connecticut to join the Green Schools Alliance this past spring; there are now 12 member schools across the state. The Green Schools Alliance is a worldwide organization of schools committed to reducing carbon emissions on campuses by creating a comprehensive sustainability plan, focusing attention on energy conservation and waste reduction. There are currently 1,700 schools nationally who participate in this program.

Avon Old Farms School celebrated the newly installed 205kW solar array, the largest of any private school in Connecticut and all of New England, with its student body, faculty, staff, and its Board of Directors on Friday. The array was dedicated in honor of the life and legacy of past faculty member Michael Stradley, who was instrumental in the project's implementation. Stradley assumed the role of Sustainability Coordinator at the school in 2008-09, leading the school in its sustainability initiatives. Over several previous years, Stradley logged many hours researching solar energy systems and working with students to gather information and data to perform calculations and analyze whether it could be a viable energy source for the school. Stradley's efforts and his visions of a completely sustainable campus made the solar array a reality; sadly, Stradley passed away on August 8.

Located on the roof of the Jennings Fairchild Rink, the 692 solar panels will power a significant portion of the core campus buildings, reducing the school's CO2 emissions by 6.3 million pounds over the 25-year life of the system. This CO2 reduction is equivalent to planting 30,000 trees or eliminating 6.9 million driving miles. The electricity generated by the solar energy system will cost the school about 30% less than electricity from the utility.

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) made possible by EOS Ventures of Massachusetts, financed a portion of the project. Through third-party ownership, PPAs allow non-profits like Avon Old Farms to benefit from a solar energy system without the usual large initial capital investment. Additional financial support from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) was secured for the project.

Read more about Avon Old Farms School.