Tag: green schools

Press Release
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Feb 8, 2023

NEW YORK, February 8, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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New York solar energy developer Plankton Energy recently energized a 229 kW rooftop solar system at Cheshire Academy in Cheshire, CT. By utilizing the roof of the campus facilities building, the John J. White ’38 Science & Technology Center, and the Gideon Welles Dining Commons, the electricity needs of each of these buildings will be supplied by onsite solar power.

Funded entirely by Plankton Energy, at zero cost to Cheshire Academy, the system is expected to generate approximately 272,000 kWh of solar power annually. Over the lifetime of the system, Cheshire Academy will save over $297,000 on electricity expenses and avoid over 1,248 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, the equivalent of avoiding burning 140,000 gallons of gasoline. The panels serve as a visible reminder of the Academy’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

“Our mission is to empower students to thrive as global citizens. Nothing is more global than our environment, and the solar cells and energy made possible through our work with Plankton is a daily reminder to our students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors that acting locally has positive global impacts,” said Jennifer Dillon, Sustainability Coordinator of Cheshire Academy

“We’re thrilled to see this project come to fruition. Our team was grateful to partner with the team at Cheshire to assist them in achieving their environmental goals,” said Dan Giuffrida, CEO of Plankton Energy.

The success of this project was made possible by the Connecticut Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit Program and by the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which was recently extended for 10 years through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Plankton Energy is a turnkey solar energy provider dedicated to serving schools, houses of worship, small and medium enterprises and community solar across the United States. Plankton supports schools and community institutions like Cheshire Academy to save considerably on their electricity bills and pioneer energy choices that align with their sustainability values.

Founded in 1794, Cheshire Academy is a college preparatory boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12 and postgraduate. The historic 104-acre campus is nestled in the bucolic but central town of Cheshire, Connecticut, just two hours from Boston and from New York. With approximately 343 students from 14 states and 27 countries, Cheshire Academy takes a flexible and tailored approach, allowing students to combine a variety of academic and extracurricular offerings optimal to their individual needs, strengths, and interests.

Source: Plankton Energy

Press Release
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Sep 8, 2022

NEW YORK, September 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
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Plankton Energy partnered with Princeton Montessori School to install a campus-wide 202.5kW rooftop solar system at no cost to Princeton. By transforming three building roofs into solar-powered generators, most of the school’s electricity needs will be supplied by onsite solar power.

The system was energized this August and stands to save Princeton over $720,000 over its lifetime and will avoid the emission of over 3,400 metric tons of CO₂ over the life of the system. This is the equivalent of avoiding emissions from the use of over 380,000 gallons of gasoline.

Princeton Montessori Head of School Michelle Morrison says the school will utilize the “savings in supporting the education of our children and on other sustainability projects that will enable the School to live up to its ambitious environmental goals, and reflect the importance that Montessori teaching places on nature.”

“We’re thrilled to get this project operational before students returned to school and look forward to helping faculty utilize the system as a teaching tool for the students,” said Dan Giuffrida, CEO of Plankton Energy.

“Plankton Energy were professional, helpful and constructive all the way through the process. They answered myriad questions from school Board members and staff, patiently and clearly – very important when you are seeking to obtain agreement on such a major project. Plankton worked hard to ensure that the installation was not overly disruptive and we are now delighted to have a beautiful solar array providing us with renewable energy and significant savings.” – Gery Juleff, Sustainability Manager, Princeton Montessori.

The solar system was energized just three days after President Biden enacted the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which represents the biggest climate investment in U.S. history. The Act extended incentives for solar and eased the process for financing solar projects which will pave the way for solar deployments at schools across the country for the next decade.

Plankton Energy is a turnkey solar energy provider dedicated to serving schools, houses of worship, and small businesses across the United States. Plankton supports schools and community institutions like Princeton Montessori School to save considerably on their electricity bills and pioneer energy choices that align with their sustainability values.

Princeton Montessori School was founded in 1968 and is an independent, coeducational day school dedicated to the highest quality education of children, from infancy through middle school, according to the values and principles of the Montessori philosophy, which encourages self-motivated growth in children and adolescents. Approximately 200 families from the greater Princeton area enroll their children in Princeton Montessori School annually.

Source: Plankton Energy