Chesapeake Bay Academy’s Concept Photovoltaic System

By Ms. Price King’s Environment Science Class and Astronomy Class.

CBA Currently Spends Approximately $6,000 every month for electrical usage--

at 4.037¢ per Kilowatt = 1,486 kilowatts per month of usage.

There are 1,000 Watts in one kilowatt and 1,000 kilowatts in one megawatt. Each month CBA uses 1.49 Megawatts.

We currently spend @ $72,000 per year on electrical needs.

Over a 5 year period our PV system could save CBA over $360,000 and could bring in income.

By Jamie and David

The Perigee and Apogee of it

Looking at CBA’s solar efficiency

The sun is the star at the center of the solar system.

The Sun is a giant burning ball of gas and plasma. It emits a huge amount of energy, which is easily harvested in the form of light.

Passive solar means using sunlight for energy without active mechanical systems.

Where is the Sun? Well obviously its

in the sky. But to obtain maximum potential from the sun we must look at its position in relation to the school’s separate facades.

The front of the building points Northwest

The back of the building points Southeast

Ms. Price King’s room points Northeast.

An ideal building setting would have south facing windows.

However, our front windows aren’t facing South but rather North East.

Additional measures. In order to prevent air conditioning loss in the summer

and prevent heat loss in the winter, we should install shades or blinds.

Blinds or shades save electricity and maximize the photovoltaic system we want to install.

Other ways to save electricity would be to have timers installed on each floor to turn the lights off and on automatically. These timers could also lower the heat and cooling each night.

Turning off the computers each night will save the school a tremendous amount of money. If the computers were put on a single switch in each room they could be turned on and off easily.

Making sure rooms are not too cold will also save money.

The Photovoltaic System

Nick JohnsonChris ChildressA. J. Menefee

What is a Photovoltaic System?

The components that form a solar electric generating system, usually consisting of PV modules, charge controller, circuit protectors (fuses or breakers) and batteries.

What we need to produce electricity from the nature.

Sun Solar panels Regulator Solar converter Battery

Solar Panels A solar panel is a device that collects

and converts solar energy into electricity or heat which can be used by homes, schools or businesses.

Active solar systems use electrical or mechanical equipment, such as pumps and fans, to increase the usable heat in a system.

Charge controller/regulator A regulator prevents overcharging and prevents over

voltage (to much current). Without the regulator too much voltage can reduce battery performance and lifespan and could pose a safety risk to the entire

system.

Converter

Takes the energy from the solar panel and converts it into Watts to be stored in the battery.

Battery

A battery is two or more electrochemical cells connected in series which store chemical energy and make it available as electrical energy.

We need 36 24 volt batteries to store Electricity to light, heat and cool Chesapeake Bay Academy.

How the photovoltaic system works.

COSTS

Kelsey Sharpe Megan Blow Lauren Jones

Cost of Supplies 20 solar panels at 200 watts will cost $19,300. The

panels will be grouped for each floor. 8 panels to heat and cool the bottom floor, with 6 panels for each of the other floors. Manufactured by Sharp.

The converter boxes will cost between $200-$300 each. We will need three boxes which will cost from $600 to $900.

3 Regulators at $980 will cost $2,490. One regulator will be used for each floor.

36 Batteries at 24 volts each will cost $13,932. These are manufactured by APC Smart XL.

The total amount for the equipment is $36,622. We can either get volunteers to install it, or pay $10,000

dollars more for installation. For a total of $46,622. There could be a margin of error

within $8,000.00.

CONSERVING ENERGY WITH PLANTS

By Kevin Clark

Saving energy and money Never before has the demand for energy

been as high. Although it is not possible to control temperature, wind, and other natural elements, certain landscape practices can help modify the climate in and around a building. By placing trees, shrubs, vines and landscape structures properly, this can reduce the energy required to keep buildings comfortable during winter and summer. Along with the reduction of energy bills, a well-planned landscape adds beauty.

Houses gain or lose heat in 3 basic ways:

Air infiltration - passage of air through cracks and around doors or through open windows and doors. A building loses 20-30% of heat in winter by air infiltration

Heat conduction - conduction of heat through materials of which the house is built. Controlling the temperature difference and air movement between inner and outer surfaces of walls, floors and ceilings is the best opportunity for reducing heat conduction. Heat conduction represents up to 50% or more of the total heat exchange between the building and the outside environment

Houses gain or lose heat in 3 basic ways: continued

Solar radiation - heat is transmitted into a building by penetration of the sun's rays. Up to 90% will be transmitted into the living area if rays are received perpendicular to a single pane. Sunlight will be increasingly reflected by the glass as the sunlight departs from the perpendicular.

Cover plants and Vines. In addition to shading roof areas,

plants can protect walls from heat and cold. Vines, shrubs and certain trees can be used as espaliers (plants trained to grow flat against walls). The foliage cover insulates the wall against summer heat and cold winter winds. Trees, shrubs and vines can be highly effective in reducing noise and dust pollution.

Wind Reduction

Photovoltaic System Funding

By: Bryant Leary and Mickey Hodges

Cost A photovoltaic system for Chesapeake Bay

Academy would cost around 60,000 dollars with a margin of error of $8,000.

The size of the school means nothing to the efficiency of the system. The amount of electricity produced depends on where you are in the world, how much sunlight you receive in your area, how you maximize the sunlight and how you conserve energy in CBA.

Funding Sources and In-kind Services.

CBA could get volunteers to help install it.

We could have fundraisers. Some companies will take payments

over a period of time. CBA could pledge the money needed

knowing the system would eventually pay for itself, save money and even make money for the school.

Funding Sources There are federal sources of funding

through the Environmental Protection Agency. – Change each year.

There could be funding available through the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Sometimes there is funding through The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EEREC)

What would be the benefit to CBA?

CBA would be spending less on the photovoltaic system than they would spend in one year on electricity. Utilities continue to increase every year.

This system could pay for itself starting the second year.

If CBA’s system could produce more electricity than it uses then Dominion Power would have to pay CBA for the electricity it generates.

Other Environmental Science projects for CBA in the next years.

A windmill system Water walls for cooling A green roof system A green house system

Schools in the United States are using solar!

Solar in Schools Bluffsview Elementary School, Worthington, Ohio - This school has a 2 kW photovoltaic

system.  The website allows users to create graphs of system output. Mukilteo Solar House Project - Read about how eighth grade students in Washington

state learned about design and construction of a solar home.  The site has photos of the students' final projects and a good description of the exercise for teachers.

Schools Going Solar - A guide to schools enjoying the power of solar energy, provided by the Utility Photovoltaic Group.

The Solar School (Australia) - This site features quizzes, projects, and even a virtual solar power station.  Designed and hosted by the University of New South Wales, it also has links to solar weather data at several locations in New South Wales.

Solar Splash - The Solar Splash is the World Championship of solar-electric boating. It is an international intercollegiate competition which takes place over five days. The various events stress system design and both short distance speed and long distance endurance.

Sunrayce - The Sunrayce program challenges college students to design, build and race solar-powered cars in a long-distance event.

SUNSTANG Solar Car Project - Students at The University of Western Ontario plan to race across the North American and Australian continents, powered only by the simple energy of the sun.  Explore this site and learn about how they plan to engineer their next-generation solar car.

World Solar Challenge (Australia) - This site links to Australia's solar car and bicycle design competitions.

Childress, Texas - Childress High School

High School

Mineola, Texas – Mineola High School

The Future of Solar. A Solar System in Spain.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL

SCIENCE and ASTRONOMY

CLASSES INVITE THE CBA BOARD

OF DIRECTORS TO CONSIDER THIS

PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE OF CBA.

Thank you for your attention!

David Haddad, Kevin Clark, Mickey Hodges, Kelsey Sharpe, A. J. Menefee, Lauren Jones, Chris Childress, Nick Johnson,

Jamie Wilder, Megan Blow and Bryant Leary.