Briarcliff School District Shines A Light On New Parking Area Solar Panels

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

Sustainability and reducing carbon footprints are not just buzzwords at Briarcliff Manor School District; they are part of a reality that will not only reduce energy usage but may also bring in additional revenue for the district.

After nearly 90 percent of voters approved of an energy performance contract, the district embarked on an energy-savings project that will result in a net-zero cost to taxpayers.

A big part of this project is the installation of solar panels, which will be fully installed before the end of the summer.

“This contract is being funded through state aid, as well as the future energy savings that we will begin seeing very soon,” said Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations John Brucato. “This cost-neutral endeavor makes it exciting, especially with the possibility of potentially even seeing monetary gains.”

The solar panels will be installed on the roofs of all three schools. Canopies have recently been installed over the senior parking lot at Briarcliff High School.

According to Mr. Brucato, the roofs did not provide enough space to offset the usage, so the district added the canopies, which will hold extra solar panels, which are included in the scope of the original project.

The canopies came with an unexpected bonus.

“The solar panels are weather-resistant and can also provide protection from rain and snow,” Mr. Brucato said.

“Due to the ideal southern-facing exposure at the senior parking lot, and together with the panels on the roofs, we hope to start seeing significant savings soon,” he added.

In addition to the solar panels, the district recently made more additions to reduce electricity; doorways were sealed, new air-conditioning units have been installed in the middle and high schools and lighting fixtures have been replaced.

“All of our lighting fixtures are now LED and energy-efficient,” Mr. Brucato said. “They are also motion-sensor activated, so they turn off automatically when no one is there.”

“We hope all of these changes lead to the district being cash-positive as a result of this endeavor, because we will hopefully be putting energy back into the grid, due to generating so much electricity. Whatever we have as cash-positive would likely go back into the classrooms.”

Looking towards the future, the district will soon begin work on another capital improvement project.

“We would like to improve the athletic fields and add more health and safety related items,” Mr. Brucato said. “The facilities committee will start looking into that later this year, potentially in December.”

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.