A new report is shedding light on the impact of adding solar panels to the top of U.S. schools could have on saving money and helping the environment.
The study, which was published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that if schools across the U.S. were to add solar panels to all of the eligible space they have on their roofs, they could meet around 75 percent of their electrical needs and decrease the industry’s carbon footprint by approximately 28 percent.
The cost savings there is pretty significant for educational institutions, and it is also something that could provide a big boost to the environment. The report states that schools across the U.S. make up 11 percent of all of the building electricity in the country. In addition, these facilities create 4 percent of the total CO2 that is emitted from the U.S., according to the report.
The report specifically identifies California, as well as Texas and Florida, as states that have the highest potential for generation. It also says the following:
“The provision of electricity services from rooftop solar PV on educational institutions could reduce health, environmental, and climate change damages by roughly $4 billion per year.”
There is obviously a big opportunity here for educational institutions across the country, including those in the Sacramento region. At Aztec Solar, we can handle large-scale installations such as these and would be happy to assist any school or school district looking to go solar.
If you have any questions about this or any other type of solar installation, don’t hesitate to contact us at 916.853.2700.