District Solar Deal Includes Learning Wagons

An Indiana district is setting up solar farms that will cover the energy usage for three of its schools. Hamilton Southeastern Schools will be working with Ameresco to implement two solar arrays, with a total of 4,800 panels and the capacity of generating 2.4 million kWh annually. The company said that level of energy production was sufficient to power 294 homes for a year, avoiding 1,687 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

District Solar Deal Includes Learning Wagons

District Solar Deal Includes Learning Wagons

District Solar Deal Includes Learning Wagons


Source: Hamilton Southeastern Schools

The deal also includes two "solar wagons" and programming to help the schools add solar-oriented curriculum into the classroom.

Funding is coming from a combination of four-year bond fees and cost savings expected from the solar arrays. According to local reporting, the investment is expected to be covered in 11 years through cost savings.

"Our partnership with Ameresco has already allowed us to invest in projects that directly benefit our students and create a more sustainable learning environment at our schools," said Superintendent, Allen Bourff, in a statement. According to the district the project, which began in January, has already loosened up sufficient budget to cover construction of a playground at an intermediate school, with the expectation that two more will be built in the future.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • dormitory with green roofs, solar panels, balconies, and labeled architectural annotations

    2025 Residence Hall Design Trends Focus on Sustainability, Flexibility, Community, Technology, and Well-Being

    With the most technically advanced Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) at the helm, residence hall design trends for 2025 look to focus on flexible spaces, health and wellness, sustainability, community, and digital technology.

  • ClassVR Wins Tech & Learning Best of Show at ISTELive 25

    Avantis Education recently announced that its flagship product, ClassVR, won the Tech & Learning Best of Show Award at ISTELive 25 in San Antonio, Texas, according to a news release. The program is designed to celebrate products that are “transforming education in schools around the world and that show the greatest promise for the industry,” and this is the fourth consecutive year that Avantis has claimed the award.

  • Beeville ISD Starts Construction on New Elementary School

    The Beeville Independent School District near Corpus Christi, Texas, recently began a construction project that will consolidate two existing, aging schools into a new elementary school, according to a news release. The district is partnering with Pfluger Architects and Spawglass General Contractors for the design and construction, respectively, of the new facility.

  • ECM Technologies Wins ‘Most Innovative Business of the Year’ Award

    HVAC preventative maintenance and efficiency solutions provider ECM Technologies was recently named the “Most Innovative Business of the Year” at the 2025 Champions of Change Awards, according to a news release. The program recognizes Arizona business leaders and organizations taking steps to make a positive impact on the state through innovative thinking and philanthropy.

Digital Edition