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NEWS
September 30, 2013 Parkway North High School
The Parkway School District Becomes a Leader in Solar Energy Photo by Zack Becker
Zack Becker Online Editor Over the summer, Parkway installed thirty solar panel arrays across the district, with three more on the way. “We made it clear to the board that solar was valued by the community,” said science teacher Russell Barton, sponsor of the Environthon team. North’s Environthon team started the idea of going solar four years ago with the Pepsi Refresh Challenge. The Refresh Challenge was a way for communities to propose service projects that needed funding. The public would vote on which project deserved Pepsi’s funding. The team promoted the project across the district and with other groups that were also trying to receive funding. When that failed, the team put their efforts into doing research and presenting a compelling argument to the district. “Once the district knew [about solar], it became an attractive thing for education, money, and the environment,” said Erik Lueders, Parkway’s Sustainability Manager. The solar panels have put the district at a huge advantage when considering the fact that electricity prices keep on rising. Having the solar panels also offset a ton of energy use that would have been wasted. “[It] saves us $1.5 million over 20 years,” said Barton. The solar panels that were supposed to be installed at North were postponed due to concerns of placing them on the roof as it could cause leaks in the roof. Now, they are going to be installed in the grass next to the art rooms facing the south parking lot. “It could be a maintenance issue,” said Building Manager Jon Metheny talking about the location of the solar panels. The solar panels are also raising slight concern on how effective they are going to be. “I am a firm believer in solar panels if they work. I hope it doesn’t cost more tax payer money than it saves. If the life cycle cost is more than not using [the panels], then it is not worth the effort,” said Metheny. “I’m not 100 percent sold on them coming from an architectural point of view.” Despite the concerns, there is a
Parkway North will be receiving a solar panel installation outside the art department, similar to one on top of the districts facilities building. The solar panel installations are aimed at saving energy across the district and at lowering the districts dependence on electricity from Ameren.
guarantee to save money with the panels. “There has been zero up-front costs to Parkway for all 30 of the existing installations. Our lease is lower than we would otherwise be paying Ameren for the same amount of electricity. In Parkway’s contract, we are actually guaranteed to save money. If the panels don’t produce enough electricity to save money, then the solar company cuts Parkway a check for the difference of the guaranteed amount,” said Lueders. The solar panels are making Parkway School District a current role model for other districts and how they can reduce their impact on the environment. “Lots of schools are giving it a good hard look,” said Lueders. “The panels create a lot of topics of discussion. It allows us to be more cognitive with being green.” Parkway is also an EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Energy Star Leader for
its efforts in being energy efficient. Parkway received the award both in 2012 and 2013. “The district has reduced its energy use by 20 percent compared to [the energy use in] 2000. We are a leader regionally and nationally in being green,” said Lueders who has been helping Parkway achieve these goals ever since he was hired four years ago. On Sept. 17, Parkway received an award in Jefferson City from the Missouri Recycling Association. Lueders was accompanied by Barton and select students from the district, including North High junior Abby Lammers. “Mr. Barton accompanied me along with North High student Abby Lammers, Central High student Julia Goldman, and Superintendent Dr. Keith Marty to Jefferson City, MO to receive the Outstanding Small Organics Diversion Program Award presented by the Missouri Recycling Association,” said Lueders.
Norsestar Staff Aurora Wrancher ...Editor in Chief
Molly Thal
...Editor in Chief
Zack Becker
...Online Editor
Nadia Ahmed
...News Editor
Kori Clay
...Community Editor
Gianna Sparks ...Centerspread Editor Jamie Powell ...Features Editor
Chaney Cooper ...Sports Editor Emma Mitchell ...Opinions Editor Sophie Wennemann ...Entertainment Editor Brianne Lewis ...Ad Manager Staff
Writers and Photographers ...Carly Steffen ...Ryan Lutker ...Monyelle Asher
Tracy Silvagnoli...Sponsor
Along with getting the new solar panels, Parkway is also trying to upgrade its transportation fleet. All of the current buses run off of diesel, which is more efficient than gasoline, but there is room to improve, so Parkway is looking at natural gas. “The transportation buses are trying to go to compressed natural gas. When it burns, it is much cleaner,” said Lueders. Even though natural gas is a limited resource, when comparing prices and pollution output, going to natural gas is a much brighter idea. With all of these changes in the district and the new solar panels already at work, the district can hope to see Parkway make history with green energy policies. The solar panels are already saving the district around 2.2 percent on its electricity usage. “They are producing more than estimated,” said Lueders.
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