Pascack Valley Students Plan Solar Charging Station

A group of students from Pascack Valley and Pascack Hills High Schools hope to get new solar-powered laptop charging stations installed at the schools.

The students, part of the district's Climate Stewards Project, came up with the idea as a way to reduce their energy use "footprint" in light of the 1:1 laptop program which provides a computer to every student in the two high schools.

"Our school is very unique in the way we use technology as an educational tool," Hills student Sabrina Mofrad said.

The students' plan calls for three solar panels to be installed on the roof of both schools in order to power the charging station. In addition to providing the solar energy, the students said they hoped it would provide an opportunity to teach about climate change and serve as an example for other schools.

The project is expected to cost about $2,855 for the solar charging station and another $1,000 for the weather station, students said.

Pascack Hills science teacher Natalie Macke told Patch that the Climate Stewards are applying for grants from Orange & Rockland and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They also hope to obtain some funding through the PV PFO and PH PFA.

To learn more about the Climate Stewards Project, check out the students' blog here.

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