NYC students learn about renewable energy with school rooftop solar panel installations
New York City schools have a new solar technology program. Solar technology relies on solar panels. These are devices that generate electricity from sunlight.
Solar panels blanket the rooftops of 60 public schools in the city. The solar panels provide clean energy for the city. They also give students a chance to learn about renewable energy up close. Renewable energy refers to energy from resources that do not run out when used. These resources include sunlight and wind.
Thomas Edison High School in Queens is one of these schools. A new solar installation on the roof generates electricity. The solar panels produce enough electricity to meet 65 percent of the school’s energy consumption. They also provide a learning opportunity for students.
Megawatts
In 2016, the New York City officials began surveying city-owned buildings. They wanted to find spaces suitable for installing solar panels. Their goal was to produce 100 megawatts of solar energy per year by 2025. A megawatt describes the output of a power station. It is a unit of power equal to one million watts.
So far, the program has been responsible for building solar panels on 110 buildings, including 60 schools. These solar installations generate 16 megawatts of energy a year. That’s enough to power 2,600 homes.
The city partnered with the Department of Education (DOE). It began expanding its efforts to teach about renewable energy in schools.
The DOE also partnered with an organization called Solar One. They helped train teachers and started a solar energy study track for students. DOE officials said 1,350 teachers and 3,200 students have taken advantage of the solar education offerings so far.
Rooftop Field Trips
Edison High is one of the city’s largest Career and Technical Education high schools. It started its solar program in 2018. The program was a way to help students keep up with the changing job market.
“They really enjoyed the experience, working alongside the contractors,” said Anthony Cooper. He teaches about solar energy at Edison High.
Students from Edison’s solar program didn’t get to participate in the installation on their own school’s rooftop. Most of the work happened over the summer. However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels. They also took frequent field trips up to the roof. They are planning to help with the upkeep of the solar panels, too.
At Edison High, teachers hope the solar program will help students no matter what field they choose. “Everything we do in the solar installations really makes them more confident and employable,” Cooper said.
Which of the following best summarizes the author's perspective on the use of solar energy in schools?
(1 point)
Responses
Renewable energy is a really important investment, and all businesses and people should install solar panels.
Renewable energy is a really important investment, and all businesses and people should install solar panels.
Students are not directly benefitting from the installation of solar panel's on their school's rooftop.
Students are not directly benefitting from the installation of solar panel's on their school's rooftop.
Installing solar technology in schools is an unnecessary expense to the city of New York.
Installing solar technology in schools is an unnecessary expense to the city of New York.
Installing solar technology in schools is both good for the environment, but also helps to engage students in learning and provides them with important life skills.
Installing solar technology in schools is both good for the environment, but also helps to engage students in learning and provides them with important life skills.
Question 2
Which of the following sentences from the passage support the author's claim that the installation of solar panels at schools has provided a learning opportunity for students?(1 point)
Responses
Solar technology relies on solar panels.
Solar technology relies on solar panels.
Edison High is one of the city's largest Career and Technical Education high schools.
Edison High is one of the city's largest Career and Technical Education high schools.
However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels closely this year.
However, the students studied the blueprints, or design plans, for the panels closely this year.
Students from Edison's solar program didn't get to directly participate in the installation on their own school's rooftop.
Students from Edison's solar program didn't get to directly participate in the installation on their own school's rooftop.
Question 3
If the author of the above passage wanted to better demonstrate the impact of installing solar technology in schools on students, which of the following mediums would be most beneficial to use?(1 point)
Responses
A video clip that shows the solar panels being installed by contractors.
A video clip that shows the solar panels being installed by contractors.
A bar graph what percentage of the school's energy consumption is produced by solar energy
A bar graph what percentage of the school's energy consumption is produced by solar energy
A video interview with students on their experiences with the solar technology
A video interview with students on their experiences with the solar technology
Photos of solar panels on school rooftops.
Photos of solar panels on school rooftops.
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