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Teach Kids About Solar Power
Earlier this year we were able to participate in the annual Punahou School Sustainability Fair which allows students and theirfamilies gain increased awareness about living sustainably. With solar education readily available and events held year-round, it seems like students are learning more about solar power at earlier ages. They are aware of topics such as carbon footprints, renewable resources and lessening our dependency on fossil fuels. Needless to say, we were impressed to see how familiar many of the students were on the topic of solar power and how it works.
Finding ways to teach kids about solar power, a topic that can even be confusing to adults, can be complicated. Here are a few directions one can take to get the young ones interested in learning more about solar.
Visual data:
Although terminology like kilowatts and kilowatt-hours can be confusing, showing this information in pictures and graphscan visually show concepts that would otherwise be difficult to explain. Things to consider: How much energy does our household use vs. how much energy does our PV system produce? How do the different times of day and weather effect the amount of electricity our solar panels produce?
Interaction:
Using science projects or familiar technology can increase interest and knowledge on relevant topics. Perhaps access an existing PV and monitoring system to allow them to measure and track usage and production of power,or use simple calculations to estimate what appliances attribute to the level of electricity you use.
Demonstration:
There are solar kits, cars, and toys that use the same technology we see on solar panels on a smaller scale; this allows them to see up close how the sunlight can create movement, energy and power.
Technology:
Access the online site that the US Department of Energy has created shows kids just how interesting learning about renewable energy an energy efficiency can be.
Heco Plan for Increased Solar Growth In Hawaii
Earthjustice and the Interstate Renewable Energy Council has recognized HECO utilities’ plans for their proactive approach to increased solar growth in Hawaii. Earlier this year HECO and clean energy stakeholders created a plan for additional system grid connections from photovoltaic (PV) installations. In it HECO has taken initiative to examine the surge in PV growth and how it will affect the utility circuits. Knowing these details enables them to see how grids will need to be upgraded to enable for planned expansion. This proactive approach is geared towards an ultimate goal of 100 percent of minimum load, to support all new renewable energy connections.
How will it work? The utilities will independently track and plan for future grid connections so it is ready for these increases and growth as they come up. This avoids any future potential delays or rejections that we have seen in the past. In other words, despite the growing amounts of PV installations across the island, HECO is continuing to find ways to accommodate its customers in their move towards clean energy usage.
“HECO’s proposed proactive approach puts Hawaiʻi on the cutting edge of accommodating high levels of solar energy on the utility grid,” said IREC’s attorney Tim Lindl.
As the growth of PV systems continues to rise over recent years HECO has correspondingly raised the circuit penetration limits to accommodate for these increases. These accommodations along with the successful implementation of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative have showcased Hawaii as a national trendsetter for renewable energy.
“This proactive approach to distributed solar is the next evolutionary step toward transforming the grid to enable homes and businesses to produce their own clean power,” said Earthjustice attorney Isaac Moriwake. “We hope this new future-facing approach will provide a roadmap for other utilities to become more rooftop solar friendly.”
Tips to Lower your Energy Use This Summer
With the hot and humid summer months upon us there is an increase of concern from homeowners on the cost of running their air conditioners. Cooling units are a leading user of electricity in our homes.
Over 55 percent of Oahu homes now have air conditioning, from a single window unit to central air, up from 22 percent just 25 years ago. – Hawaii’s Energy Future
Running a window unit in a standard bedroom for 8 hours a night can rack up to a $49 monthly bill, depending on its EER. Turning the thermostat a few degrees lower or running it during hotter hours of the daytime can make a dramatic difference in your electricity consumption, which is reflected on your utility bill. Here a few tips to keep in mind to help lower your energy usage this summer while still keeping cool:
– Consider the use of a fan in place of your traditional cooling unit.
– Lower the thermostat to reduce your energy consumption.
– Install a programmable thermostat to automatically run the unit only when the house is normally occupied.
– Clean or replace filters to increase the efficiency of your cooling unit.
– Take actions to lower the temperature of your home. Install cooler CFL lights and close the blinds or invest in home tinting for your windows.
– Purchase the right size cooling system for your room or home. HECO offers a calculator to determine the unit size you need and shows the average monthly dollars that it will cost you.
– Schedule a system maintenance check with a licensed contractor. For central air conditioning units this may qualify you for a maintenance rebate.
– Add a photovoltaic system to your house.
All of these small but significant changes can help to keep your cooling system from working overtime during these hot summer months. Find more information and further energy saving tips at the Hawaii’s Energy Futurewebsite.
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