Hawthorn North Middle School – Students Support the Installation
Solar collectors with roof lines pitched to maximize the sun’s rays were just part of the plan of the architect’s vision when New Century Development sprang up in Vernon Hills in the late 70’s. In just a few years, after the placement of the collectors, they were removed because the cost to keep the collectors repaired was in excess of the energy trade off they created. We’ve come a long way since then, and Vernon Hills is once again pursuing a solar path.
Thanks to the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation and Commonwealth Edison and the Foundation for Environmental Education, Vernon Hills and more specifically, Hawthorn North Middle School once again has the opportunity to educate students of the promise that solar with the installation of a 1kW photovoltaic system. This installation was on the roof of their school.
Early on it was decided to involve students in the actual planning stages of the installation when the school staff met with the contractor, Dave Merrill for the project. After learning about the principles of solar technology from Dave the students helped decide where the system would go after they toured the roof. To their surprise they were invited to help out on the project.
Late in July of 2006 our students arrived at the school to help install the panels.
