The Belfry
A Norfolk Academy Upper School Publication — 1585 Wesleyan Drive Norfolk, VA 23502 — December 2018 Issue
A Solar-Powered School
Patrick McElroy ’19 Over the past year, we have seen many amazing panels were installed on the Lower School and additions to Norfolk Academy, from the Massey 510 on the Middle School. Building to the Wynne-Darden stadium to the It is hard to understate the significance of complete renovation of the Lower School. What this project. The solar on Norfolk Academy is you might not know is that right now, as you enough to power eighty homes, and it should be read this, something entirely new is being add- able to reduce the carbon footprint of the school ed to the school–solar. The project began with a by over thirty percent. The panels have a range group of parents that gathered the funding to of other benefits, from reducing the school’s buy around one million dollars worth of solar electricity costs to shading the roof, which repanels for the school. The group created a sep- duces the need for air-conditioning. On top of all arate organization in order to be able to claim of this, they are rated to last for fifty years, with tax breaks that Norfolk Academy as a non-prof- a wind tolerance higher than the roof itself. But it organization could not. Destin Rodgers, a se- perhaps the best part of this renovation is the nior, designed the logo for the project. Norfolk example NA sets by doing this. Academy plans to pay these parents back fully Norfolk Academy strives to be a leader in only seven years through tax breaks and the within our local community, and committing to significant reduction in the cost of the school’s solar installation shows that we are a part of the electricity. solution in one of the most critical issues fac In May of this year, installation began on ing this area: climate change. NA will also be the maintenance building near Virginia Wesley- implementing touch kiosks to educate students an. In just a few days, almost the entire building about the panels, and perhaps other schools will was covered in solar panels. However, the main- soon follow in our footsteps. Norfolk Academy is tenance shed was not the only building to re- blazing the trail in renewable power and inspirceive this solar renovation. In September, solar ing a new generation to learn more about how to installation began on both the Lower and Mid- make our planet a healthier, better place. dle Schools. Over the past month, about 1,200