Photo: These solar panels will create an energy offset of 91% at our Gardena campus
The new solar panels atop Environmental Charter Middle School – Gardena mark two firsts for both Environmental Charter Schools and ReGreen Corp. The Gardena campus is the second location for solar installation for the ECS family and it is the first charter school installation for ReGreen.
ReGreen, based in El Segundo, CA, specializes in lighting, solar and intelligent building controls. They have provided commercial lighting and solar design, installations, assessments and analysis for companies such as: Whole Foods, Double Tree Hotels and Santa Monica College for large scale commercial, multi-family residential, and low-income housing projects. ReGreen is the leading provider for local school districts’ lighting and control systems.
For ECS and ReGreen, this project is the beginning of a systematic, holistic approach to sustainability. The environmental thread that runs through ECS’s curriculum is enhanced and demonstrated in our commitment to healthy and green campuses. This fall, solar system, lighting and controls projects are kicking off at ECMS-Inglewood and will be completed at ECMS-Gardena. ECHS Lawndale is currently exploring upgrading their lighting and controls. The aggregation of projects at all locations will make a significant impact in cost-savings, energy-efficiency and our carbon emissions – and make a powerful and demonstrative statement in line with our organizational commitment to environmental stewardship.
Currently, the solar panels in Gardena are awaiting finishing touches and will be operational in a few weeks. Luke Creamer, Project Manager at ReGreen, explains: the utility cost savings of these new solar panels will be approximately $10,204.00 a year and will create an energy offset of 91%. This system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 199 metric tons of CO2 each year which is equivalent to taking 11 gas vehicles off the road, powering 21 homes, and planting over 5,153 trees!
Photo: Our new solar panels collect the energy and good vibes as ECS staff celebrate the beginning of more energy efficiency upgrades at each of our school sites
On our path to energy efficiency and sustainable buildings, ECS is proud of our recent Inglewood campus expansion. The new classroom buildings are LEED Certified and the expansion features 10 new classrooms and 35,000 square feet of outdoor learning space. The expansion will enable ECMS-I to serve 360 students in the 2018-2019 school year.
“The solar and lighting projects are a great step toward self-reliance and stewardship. These projects will also provide ECS students and staff an additional avenue to understand our impact on the environment.” says Alayna Santos, ECS Facilities and Sustainability Manager.
ECS and ReGreen share a commitment to environmental stewardship and to contributing to the South Bay and South LA communities. Consider donating to ECS’s expansion and check out photo updates on our Inglewood build plus read these ReGreen news updates on their contributions and involvement in the community.
