Elementary school in Grant County uses the sun to power sign, educate students

The panels, called SolarMills, and supported by the Eastbrook Alternative Energy Group are meant to both show and demonstrate to students renewable energy in use and educate them on the science behind the panels.

The use of renewable energy and education students on it isn’t new exactly new to Eastbrook.

Wind turbines were installed on all three of the school district’s buildings in 2012, offering students insights to weather-related data in their hometown, including wind speed, direction, wattage and kilowatt hours, which is shared with all schools and Taylor University.  

The same company that installed the wind turbines – WindStream Technologies – upgraded the school’s technology, adding solar panels late last year.

Eastbrook South Elementary Principal Miriam Dalton said the wind turbines have already been a huge asset and that the school and teachers were looking forward to adding the new technology to the science curriculum.

“Students will actually get to see the site where all the data is collected,” Dalton said. “It’s a great gift to our students. It’s another thing that could tap into a student’s niche.”

Next to the “Welcome” sign is a bulletin board, detailing how the sign is powered and honoring the top sixth grade science student of the month.

LaRae Slater, co-chair of the Estbrook Alternative Energy Group, said the schools have been using the technology exactly as the group wanted.

Slater said the value of the solar panels and wind turbines will only grow as the national and global market for renewable energy grows.

“It’s important that there is renewable energy and that students know about it,” Slater said. “We hope the data is used and put in their high school curriculum.”