Flipping the Switch to S LAR

As the world is continuing a pattern of sustainability, apart from fossil fuels, Eastern stands no exception. As a hub for over 2,000 students, the school’s composite energy consumption warrants a cleaner alternative that will keep the surrounding communitiy’s air clearer. By implementing a solar carport (a parking lot canopy made of solar panels) in addition to the standing solar panels located on the roof, 94% of Eastern’s total energy consumption will come from means of solar power by 2024!

To ensure a convenient switch to solar, Novitium Energy has partnered with Eastern to create both a space and energy efficient carport model. More likely than not, you have seen a solar carport model in numerous local places, such as Lincoln Financial Field. Other examples of school carports can be found on Novitium’s website. The website displays carport projects from both Gloucester High School and Pennsauken Intermediate School.

Although parking has been temporarily strained by construction, the finished product will not affect our normal parking! If anything, the shelter of the panels will keep your car from year round rain and seasonal snows.

While the already started construction’s completion date aims for before next school year’s winter break, a deadline of January 25, 2024 is ensured. By the end of this May, however, the first completed solar carport structure, filled with solar arrays, will be finished in the main parking lot.

This innovation is an exciting addition to the school for many reasons. For its environmental benefits, the student body and surrounding community should look forward to its completion. The project will also allow a greater budget long term.

An already existing implementation of schoolwide air conditioning had the effect of doubling the school’s energy necessity. Instead of using fossil fuels, coal, or natural gas, Eastern chose an 100% clean energy source in solar power.

The solar panels will greatly minimize the amounts of CO2 emissions and sediment in Voorhees’s atmosphere, which will decrease the possibility for increased conditions of climate change.

According to the Department of Health, schools themselves annually emit 72 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Yet, our school will no longer contirbute to this significant sum. A sense of pride should be felt among Eastern for it is added to the list of energy-conscious schools by lessening their CO2 emissions and flipping the switch to solar!