Bowling Green School Goes Solar!

Article on the Courier Journal website entitled "Solar panels go up at Ky. elementary school" tells of how Richardsville Elementary School of Bowling Green, Kentucky is becoming a "net-zero" building. They have begun installing 2,700 photovoltaic panels as part of a $2.4 million project. These panels will provide electricity to the school and if there is a surplus back to the power grid to be used for needs in the surrounding area. Other energy saving measures are heavy insulation used in the building and a geothermal cooling/heating system.

The project is being done by Morton Solar and Wind and Advanced Electrical Systems. It is estimated on a sunny day the panels can produce 2.5 megawatts of electricity an hour or enough to power 50 homes. If that quote is right the average home uses 50 kilowatt (I am guessing a day)?

Louisville Regional Science Fairs

Saturday, March 13, 2010 was the 46th Annual Louisville Regional Science Fairs allowing area middle and high school students to demonstrate their scientific prowess. Congratulations to all the students who entered and hopefully the experience will lead to rewarding careers.

Here is a video from the overall winner of the 2010 Intel Science Talent Search talking about improved methods for navigating the solar system.



Louisville Science Fairs list condensed from the one published on the Courier Journal website.

Of particular interest are the students who created solar related exhibits:

1st Place
Senior Division
Physical Sciences
Megan Mercer
11
Ballard High School
A New Solar Energy Material Search Strategy

3rd Place
Junior Division
Physical Sciences
Teddy Kamer
7
St. Francis of Assisi School
Generating Electricity from Temperature Differentials in Metals

Engineering: Electrical & Mechanical
Senior
2nd
Jaclyn Ochsner
10
Assumption High School
Which type of liquid running through a solar collector will capture and transfer the
most heat?

Engineering: Materials & Bioengineering
Senior
1st
Hannah Maddox
10
Ballard High School
How Safe Are your Shades?

Energy & Transportation
Senior
2nd
Kevin Brand
10
Ballard High School
Solar Absorption of Different Colored Light

Energy & Transportation
Senior
3rd
Daniel Chon
9
Ballard High School
Making Wind Generators Exceedingly Efficient

Microbiology
Junior
3rd
Induja Nimma
8
Meyzeek Middle School
Water Disinfection with Solar Energy

Energy & Transportation
Junior
1st
Arjun Agarwal
6
Meyzeek Middle School
Renewable Solar Energy Question: Does a Magnifying Glass Improve Solar Panel Output?

Energy & Transportation
Junior
2nd
Sarah Asseff
8
Newburg Middle School
Solar Water Heater Operation in Cold Weather: A Continuation