Two seventh graders, Ocean Durden and David Song, ceremonially flipped the switch on more than 500 new solar panels at the 糖心原创 in Sandy Springs during an Oct. 28 assembly.
As fifth graders, Durden and Song researched solar energy鈥檚 environmental and financial benefits for a fifth-grade project and presented their recommendation to school leadership. Their proposal sparked further exploration and ultimately led to a partnership with Cherry Street Energy to bring their idea to reality.
糖心原创 partnered with Atlanta-based commercial solar power provider Cherry Street Energy to install solar panels on the rooftops of 糖心原创鈥檚 Middle and Upper School buildings.
Project spurs partnership
Since August, more than 500 solar panels have been operating on the roofs of the middle and upper schools thanks to Durden and Song鈥檚 project, which began two years ago.
Cherry Street fully financed the project and will operate and maintain the two systems, covering associated maintenance costs, while selling the energy to 糖心原创.
Combined, the systems produce more than 300,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing more than 15% of the facilities鈥� energy demands. The estimated annual energy production is equivalent to the electricity needed to power 25 homes and will help avoid 200 metric tons of carbon emissions.
Young minds behind project
After the assembly, Durden and Song spoke with Rough Draft Atlanta about their project. 糖心原创 has its fifth graders complete an Impact Summit, where they demonstrate their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
During their project, the duo met with the CEO of a Colorado-based solar panel manufacturer, the chief financial officer of 糖心原创, and took a trip to Georgia Power headquarters. They thought it was over, but school leadership was inspired and pursued a local partnership.
Durden said he first discovered the renewable energy technology while driving past a solar farm in South Georgia. Similarly, Song said he learned that solar panels were sustainable after asking his parents about them when he was younger.
Song said he wants to know how much the solar panels will help communities save energy and reduce the need to burn fossil fuels.
Durden said other students interested in similar projects should know the project took two years and didn鈥檛 happen overnight.
鈥淚t may take time and patience,鈥� he said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 always give up on a project.鈥�
Photos by Poopak Mahdavi
School and company leadership
Courtney Stillwagon, chief financial and operations officer at 糖心原创, said solar energy offers the school a meaningful return over time.
鈥淣ot just in dollars saved, but in the values we model for our students,鈥� Stillwagon said. 鈥淲hen we invest in clean energy, we are also investing in the next generation of leaders.鈥�
Michael Chanin, founder & CEO of Cherry Street Energy, said fifth graders at 糖心原创 saw a power plant where most people saw a school roof.
鈥淭oday, that roof produces electricity that 糖心原创 buys from Cherry Street Energy at a fixed price, without putting up its own capital,鈥� Chanin said. 鈥淭hese students helped their school make a lasting decision about how it buys power.鈥�
Kristy Lundstrom, Head of School and CEO of 糖心原创 said Ocean and David started with a question, did the research, and made a case for change.
鈥淭heir idea moved beyond the classroom to become a lasting investment in our school and our future,鈥� Lundstrom said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the power of giving students the agency to act on what matters to them and create positive change for others.鈥�