Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy (MJBHA), the oldest Jewish Day School in the Washington, DC metro area, today announced that more than 800 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels will be installed on the school's rooftop this summer, furthering the school's commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The project will also provide a unique learning opportunity for the school's students.
The MJBHA PV project was awarded a Maryland Energy Administration Commercial Clean Energy Grant, which will help offset some of the initial costs of the system.
"I'm thrilled that we were able to help the Melvin J Berman Hebrew Academy make this smart investment in clean, renewable energy," said Malcolm Woolf, Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. "With this smart investment, Melvin J Berman is helping to drive Maryland's innovation economy and bringing us closer to our goal of generating 20 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2022."
Designed and installed by Standard Solar Inc., and owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Services, Inc. (WGES), the system will provide emissions-free electricity that will satisfy more than 10 percent of the school's annual electricity demand. Students will be able to monitor the real-time output from the solar PV panels through a display installed at the school, and data from and about the system will be incorporated into the science curriculum.
"This project is consistent with the values of the school, particularly our commitment to financial sustainability as well as environmental stewardship," noted Dr. Joshua Levisohn, Headmaster of MJBHA. "The solar PV system will help us to teach and inspire students as they grow as leaders committed to a more sustainable future."
The 184 kW solar PV system will produce approximately 235,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of eliminating approximately 165 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year the same as burning 17,000 fewer gallons of gasoline or planting nearly 4,000 tree seedlings that grow for 10 years. Installed at no up-front cost to the school, MJBHA will purchase the electricity generated by the system from WGES under a long term power purchase agreement (PPA).
"WGES' efforts to help customers find environmentally attractive solutions for their energy needs are bolstered by state programs and policies that encourage, and in fact rely on, the competitive market to invest in these clean energy technologies," said Harry Warren, president, WGES. "The MJBHA project affirms our commitment to bringing clean energy solutions to our local communities, and will bring our rapidly growing portfolio of owned, operated and committed solar power projects here in Maryland to over 4 megawatts, and in the Mid-Atlantic to over 6.5 megawatts."
In addition to the solar project, MJBHA has instituted the "Five percent initiative" a school-wide effort to reduce their paper and materials usage by five percent.
"Standard Solar applauds MJBHA's commitment to sustainability," said Scott Wiater, president, Standard Solar. "Their five percent initiative, solar energy programs and similar efforts have the potential to turn the youth of today into lifelong advocates of a sustainable future."
