Did you hear the big news? Edge High School has gone green! Thanks to a generous grant from Nonprofit Solar Project, a partnership between Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and Solar United Neighbors (SUN), we are now a clean energy campus!
Our Himmel Park Campus was the first grant recipient to turn on its solar powered installation on January 17, 2024. The installation delivers 58.5 kilowatts of solar energy powering 100% of the campus’ electrical requirements via 116 solar panels.
The Edge solar installation is a “push/pull” system, where energy generated by the solar panels powers our school’s needs and any excess is returned to the TEP grid. Anne Ortiz, Edge District Finance and Resource Director says, “If the school exceeds the capacity generated by the installation, then it draws energy from the grid.”
In addition to being a smart move for energy conservation, the new solar energy system will save Edge High School $1,112 per month in energy costs; an average approximate annual savings of 70%. Over the next 20 years, we estimate to save $146,313 on energy costs, with a breakeven point on the cost of the installation of approximately nine years.
To celebrate being the first CFSA grant awardee to turn on our solar installation, we held a ribbon-cutting celebration on March 7th at our Himmel Park Campus. The event featured speakers from Technicians for Sustainability and Edge’s staff, as well as students’ contributions on the impact of climate change, including results from a research project, as well as poetry and artwork.
Thank you, thank you, thank you to the amazing organizations that helped Edge make the switch to solar, so we can reduce our carbon footprint and energy costs, and free up resources for other needs in our tuition-free charter high school. This project is yet another example of the powerful support from our local community that impacts our students, proving we are truly better together.
About Edge
EDGE is a Cognia accredited, tuition-free, charter high school, with two campuses in the greater Tucson area. We provide an alternative to traditional education, meeting the diverse learning and life needs of our students with our blended curriculum and flexible morning or afternoon class schedules. Our high-quality, passionate teachers are dedicated to individualized instruction in our small academic classes. Be you. With us. At Edge.