News Release

November 16, 2007

Southwest Junior High receives Governor's Energy Award

Southwest Junior High School in Lawrence received the Governor’s Energy Recognition Award in Renewable Energy at the Kansas Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Conference held in Topeka.

In August, installation of a 1.2-kilowatt solar module on the roof of the main entrance to the school was completed.

Solar power will provide a portion of Southwest’s energy needs, but school leaders say the educational component will be the greatest benefit.

"The important thing is that our students and the community will see that an installation of this nature looks good," said Southwest Principal Trish Bransky. "We'll be generating data 24-7, and will be able to see how much energy we are offsetting.”

The project was primarily financed by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, based in Portland, Oregon, which developed and manages "Solar 4 R Schools." The Bonneville foundation provides area businesses the opportunity to purchase renewable energy credits, known as "green tags" through Zephyr Energy, with proceeds from those sales funding the Southwest solar project.

No taxpayer funds were used on the project. School leaders also applied for a $7,000 grant from the Douglas County Community Foundation’s Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Fund to cover half of the installation costs.

For on-going educational purposes, an informational kiosk has been installed in the school entrance. With technological advancements solar power systems are no longer an exotic, high-maintenance technology.