Photograph by George Sakkestad Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos had solar panels installed in 2011, with more solar installations planned for the future. Marshall Lane Elementary School in Saratoga is also going solar.
When the Campbell Union School District installed solar panels at Rolling Hills Middle School in Los Gatos in 2011, it was the beginning of a now-celebrated energy conservation program.
The district received the Energy Leadership Award at the Green Schools & Colleges Summit held recently in Pasadena, and is also in line for special funding through the California Energy Conservations Assistance Act.
The Energy Leadership Award was for the net-zero energy multipurpose building at Blackford Elementary School. The building features rooftop solar panels, a full-glass front and skylights, daylight occupancy sensors to control lights, automated windows, thick insulation and a white roof. Energy is produced year-round by the solar panels and surplus energy is stored in a grid for later use. It’s expected to produce more than or equal to its energy consumption each year.
The Blackford multipurpose building is the first of eight energy efficient buildings the district plans to construct as part of its overall energy-saving strategy.
“Rolling Hills was the first school to have solar panels and we’ll be adding to that,” district spokeswoman Marla Sanchez said. “Marshall Lane will get solar, too.”
The district was also awarded a $7.5 million zero-interest loan for solar installation projects and energy efficiency measures that will be implemented at 11 schools. The loan was one of three awarded to school districts by the California Energy Commission. The projects are expected to save more than $480,000 a year.
Allison Williams contributed to this story.
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Rolling Hills solar panel project is just the beginning for district
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