This article appeared as "Harnessing the Sun" in the Summer 2023 issue of Independent School.For St. Stephen’s Episcopal School (TX), the installation of solar arrays on campus in fall 2022 was more than an environmentally friendly or energy-savings project. It was a demonstration of the school’s commitment to enhancing sustainability through campus operations, educational programming, and school culture, as outlined in its strategic plan.
With donor support and a special rebate from Austin Energy, 1,064 panels were installed on five buildings and are expected to generate 787,594 kilowatt hours per year and save the school about $65,000 annually. Early estimates suggest that 20% of the overall school energy will come from the solar panels. Meanwhile, real-time energy dashboards in various places on campus show the school’s energy consumption and production.
Students in sixth to 12th grade are getting an up-close look at the project through a science curriculum that explores solar power, its benefits, and how it works. They even get to monitor the output of the panels and energy use at the school. Speir Solar, the company that installed the panels, assisted with faculty professional development and science lessons. As a school that values interdisciplinary studies, St. Stephen’s faculty in all departments see opportunities to discuss the impact of solar through exploration of issues related to pollution, climate change, electrical generation, financial solvency, and conservation of land and resources.
“One of the five core values of our school mission is to be ethical citizens and stewards of the planet we share,” Head of School Chris Gunnin said at a celebration of the project in December, where many in the crowd were wearing student-designed T-shirts and listening to students perform sun-related songs. “That’s why I am so proud of the school taking this significant step forward to deepen our commitment to sustainability.”
Top photo: Donors Frederick and Will Dure and Rt. Rev. Kai Ryan flip the switch on the solar panels.
Bottom photo: Head of School Chris Gunnin, left, Rt. Kai Ryan, second from right, and members of the student environmental club Green Goblins.
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