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SMUD teams up with schools for hands-on solar lessons
Folsom Cordova schools and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District have partnered to bring solar energy technology to the classroom as a part of new STEM curriculum – science, technology, engineering and math.
Folsom and Sutter middle schools were selected to be participants in SMUD’s Solar SunFlower program. The program places at local schools an 18-foot-high structure resembling a flower stem that houses six solar panels and generates 400 watts of electricity.
The SunFlower can be used as an outdoor learning tool; students can change the orientation of the panels to see how much energy they produce, for instance. Students can also plug various electronic devices into the SunFlower, including iPods and laptops, utilizing its 12-volt and USB outlets.
“It’s great for students to see a practical application of this technology,” said Dale Waldo, a STEM educator at Folsom Middle School.
Waldo’s Project Lead the Way educational program is devoted to exploring the STEM fields through hands-on and project-based lessons. He plans on using the new solar array with his class.
"By planting Solar SunFlowers at Sacramento-area schools, SMUD is hoping to generate more than electricity,” said Frankie McDermott, director of customer services for SMUD. “We want to generate interest in math and science – subjects that will help students develop the skills needed to adapt to a changing energy future."