The West Covina Unified School District “flipped the switch” at Edgewood High School on September 25, 2018 to celebrate the district-wide solar power initiative.
The solar panel initiative is an effort to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption by utilizing renewable energy sources. The estimated cost savings to the district is approximately $750,000 per year in electricity costs.
“With the installation of the new solar panels, we are going green to help our environment while also saving money,” Board President Michael Flowers said.
The district began construction on the solar panels during the winter of 2017. The process consisted of surveys to determine the best location for the panels and construction preparation, which involved digging 12-foot deep footings for steel beams.
Most solar structures were built over parking lots or near playgrounds to provide shade during the day. Edgewood has an additional solar structure near their new track and field to be enjoyed by students, staff and community members during athletic activities. Solar structures also provide security lighting for campuses.
The project was completed in the summer of 2018, which included attaching the solar panels to the steel beams, connecting the solar panels to the electric service, and undergoing inspection and certification by the electricity company.