Renewable Energy

Illinois Clean Energy created the K-12 Wind Schools Pilot program in 2011 to test the feasibility of a larger scale K-12 Wind Schools initiative similar to the Foundation’s K-12 Solar Schools program. The Foundation provides grants of up to $40,000 (or 90% of the project cost, whichever is less) to K-12 schools towards the installation of small 1-5kW wind turbines. Grantees receive the same curricular support and access to workshops as solar schools grantees.

Illini Central CUSD is the first grantee to have completed a project under this new program. The district is located just over 30 miles north of Springfield, and installed a 1.8kW Skystream 3.7 turbine using a 70ft monopole on its campus in late 2011 at a total cost of $24,440. The district has integrated wind technology into physics, math, and environmental science classes, coupling this most recent installation with a previous solar schools installation.

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation completed the Rosa Parks Apartments in May 2010, providing 94 quality and affordable apartments to Chicago families. The apartment complex heats about 680 gallons of hot water per day using 10 AET AE-40 solar thermal collectors (40 sq. ft. each), offsetting well over 1,000 therms of natural gas annually that would otherwise be used to heat the water. When insufficient sun is available the water heating is supplemented by high efficiency water heaters. Each resident of Rosa Parks Apartments receives a Green Reference Guide, with information on the green elements in their apartment, how to care for them, and how to make choices that help the environment, are healthy for their families and can save them money. Bickerdike educates residents and involves them in the success of the apartment complex' sustainability efforts.This school has embraced solar thermal technology and has installed three different systems around campus to provide hot water as well as radiant floor heating.

Prairieview-Ogden Community School District #197 (PVO) is small rural school district about 20 miles northwest of Champaign, IL serving 250 students from kindergarten through 8th grade. PVO has demonstrated leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and has installed new windows, doors, insulation, lighting, and energy management technologies.

The district has completed a number of projects with the Foundation's support, completing the installation of a 50 kW Endurance E3120 turbine on a 120 foot tower in early 2012 at South Elementary School. At the same school, the Foundation also helped PVO install a 53 ton geothermal HVAC system in 2010 with a grant of $90,000. The Foundation also provided support for two 1kW solar photovoltaic systems at North Elementary School and the Junior High School through the Solar Schools program in 2011 and 2012 with $8,000 of support for each installation. The Foundation also helped PVO install energy efficient lighting throughout its schools in 2005 with a grant of $17,504.

PVO provides an excellent model for school districts across Illinois and the country on pursuing a comprehensive capital improvement program using a foundation of energy efficient technology and renewable energy generation. These improvements not only change the way energy is generated and consumed at PVO-reducing energy costs and freeing up funds for students-but also greatly enhance the educational experience for Illinois' future engineers, scientists, educators, and professionals. The district is using all these systems in its environmental science, physics, math, and technical classes, giving students an opportunity to see theory in action. All these technologies provide a starting point for further discussion on careers, the economy, and students' futures that goes beyond the classroom.

Northwestern's student club "Engineers for a Sustainable World" spearheaded and organized the installation of the Centennial Solar Panel System, completed in April 2011. The installation is a 16.875kW solar photovoltaic (PV) array on the roof of the Ford Engineering Design Center, a LEED Silver certified facility. Students used 75 225 Watt Canadian Solar CS6P panels, and 45 Enphase D380 microinverters. This project is notable for its heavy student involvement and management in coordination with the university's facilities staff.

This installation provides an excellent educational opportunity in an environment where many future engineers are learning their craft. Students have an opportunity to analyze data from the array, while economics, environmental science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science classes are using the system as a real world anchor on key topics such as climate change and renewable energy development. The overall fundraising, construction, and outreach experience is an example of how to successfully manage a sizeable engineering project. Northwestern students have also engaged with local high school and grade school students on these key math and science topics.

Approximately 60 miles northwest of Springfield, the Schuyler County Highway Department (SCHD) installed a 10.29kW photovoltaic (PV) array, using 42 1SolTech 245 Watt panels and an SMA SB8000US inverter. This system exceeds the electrical needs of the highway department's main facility, and since starting production June 2, 2011, the system has produced over 18,700kWh of electricity (averaging approximately 12,800kWh annually). This was the first Illinois Clean Energy funded solar PV installation in Schuyler County and demonstrates the versatility of solar PV technology throughout Illinois.