A group of Lodi teachers show off their solar creations at a April 2003 workshop. Lodi Electric Utilities Department sponsors ongoing Solar Schoolhouse educational activities in to bring renewable energy subjects into the classroom. (Photo by Rahus Institute)

Ask Customer Service and Programs Manager Rob Lechner why City of Lodi Electric Utility sponsors the Solar Schoolhouse Olympics at schools in its service territory and he makes it clear. "We want to train young people to look at renewable energy as the hope for the future."

For the third year in a row, Lodi and Imperial Irrigation District teamed with the Rahus Institute to challenge students to demonstrate their knowledge of photovoltaic technology. More than 250 students from six high schools and five middle schools participated in the IID event. Lodi opened its Olympics to K-12 students and had more than 300 participants. "Each year, we get more participants," said IID Demand Side Manager Phil Falkenstein.

The Solar Schoolhouse Olympics is a component of Rahus's Solar Schoolhouse educational program. "Rahus developed Solar Schoolhouse to get renewable energy issues into the science curriculum in public schools," explained Executive Director Tor Allen. "We launched the Olympics two years later to extend solar power beyond the science classroom."

Solar Olympics cut across curriculum

The plan was a success from the start. "When I sent out the guidelines for the first Olympics, English teachers, social studies teachers and art teachers responded, as well as science teachers," said Allen.

The Solar Olympics give students the chance to put what they learned from the curriculum into practice. Using solar panels and materials contributed by Rahus and sponsors, participants build model solar homes, solar fountains and PV-powered cars and bake cookies in solar ovens.  The events also include quiz show-style contests and art competitions.

"One art class assigns the Solar Olympics art competition as its final assignment, so we get a big selection of student art pieces to choose from for the T-shirts," Allen said.

The solar "racecars" are very popular with Lodi's Olympians, said Lechner. "It's really impressive to see how much their models have advanced in just three years," he noted.

Lechner's son's sixth-grade science class was among the first to build a solar-powered car to compete. The utility awards $1,000 mini-grants to teachers to help fund project construction.

Falkenstein agreed that solar car races were a big hit at IID's event, "but the students in the other events might argue that."

"The kids make some incredible model homes," added Allen. "One welding class turned their solar panel, sheet metal and fountain plumbing into a 12-foot sculptural piece. The IID board chairman said it would look great in front of their headquarters."

The students learn Solar Olympic skills and discover a broad spectrum of energy issues through Solar Schoolhouse's curriculum of hands-on projects and Web-based learning. Rahus, a nonprofit research institute that focuses on resource efficiency, developed the curriculum to promote what Allen calls "energy literacy."  

Teachers learn from workshops

Rahus piloted the first Solar Schoolhouse curriculum in Alameda County, Calif., in 2001. Since then, teachers from 28 schools, mostly in California, have attended the summer training sessions. "We schedule it at a time to make it as convenient as possible for teachers to attend," said Allen.

The week-long workshop gives teachers a crash course in renewable energy and introduces them to the science behind solar technology as well as practical applications. They learn how to build measurement instruments, collect solar data, design classroom experiments and build working solar-powered projects. The first workshops ran for four days, Allen recalled. "When we asked how Rahus could improve the training, teachers said, 'Add another day.' "

In addition to the intensive summer school, Solar Schoolhouse conducts one-day workshops throughout the year. The shorter sessions are designed to help teachers incorporate hands-on lessons into the classroom. Schools can also get educational kits and special projects from Solar Schoolhouse. “While we create something new and exciting for students to learn with Solar Schoolhouse, we are also providing something long-lasting for teachers,” said Allen.

Flexible program offers menu of options

The menu of products and programs available through Solar Schoolhouse helps utilities and schools create educational partnerships tailored to different needs and budgets. Lodi and IID support their extensive programs with funding from California's public benefits charges, established in the state's 1996 electricity restructuring bill. Southern California Public Power Association is considering a package deal that will allow members with tight budgets to offer Solar Schoolhouse training to teachers in their service areas.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District came up with a different strategy to fund its first teacher training last year. The utility didn't have the budget for a partnership with Rahus, but it did have used PV panels. "We worked out an old-fashioned barter," said Allen. "SMUD got the teacher training program and students in the Imperial Valley are installing those panels on school projects."

Brawley Union High School's regional occupational program builds and sells houses and reinvests the proceeds in the program. IID approached the school about adding solar power to some of the houses. "Rahus trained the teachers and the students as part of the deal," said Falkenstein. "It was true recycling."

Three Brawley ROP students went on to attend Solar Energy International training in Carbondale, Colo. "SEI will help them find jobs in the solar industry," Falkenstein said.

More than public relations

If Solar Schoolhouse is creating a pool of future solar contractors, it is also creating a growing demand for their services. "Each time we hold the event, we get calls from parents who want to talk to contractors," said Lechner."

Parents' interest, he added, follows that of their children—"Call it the 'trickle up effect'," said Lechner. "It's very rewarding to see the pride in the parents' faces at the students' accomplishment. The Solar Olympics has helped Lodi reach older consumers."

Getting kids to think about energy in general is an important step toward meeting renewable energy and conservation goals, noted Falkenstein.

Allen, who is part of the California Photovoltaic Utility Managers working group, has noticed the change in the industry view of green programs.   "It used to be a good public relations move," he said. "More and more, though, renewable energy and energy efficiency are seen as key strategies for controlling costs now and securing our future," he said.

Lechner agreed, pointing out that every kilowatt saved, or produced by a solar panel, replaces a kilowatt of supplemental power his utility would otherwise have to buy. "We save money and that helps to keep our rates stable. That's why Lodi embraces the technology."

Rising energy prices, increasing demand and renewable portfolio standards are encouraging more utilities to embrace the technology. Rahus has been getting more requests and queries from outside California and Allen is packaging Solar Schoolhouse materials that are not specific to any state. "We're exploring ways to work with utilities and educators all over the country," he said. "We never intended to limit Solar Schoolhouse to California."

That's good news to utilities discovering that educated consumers are one of their most valuable renewable resources.