Shae Orman 1A Global Connections The Solar Project Shae Orman 1A Global Connections

The Idea The idea began from the very beginning of the year. I didn’t want to do something community-service based because that’s not how I am, so the question remained, “…So, what can I do?” Then it occurred to me. I’ve always been passionate about the environment. I was raised in a household where saving the rainforest and keeping the oceans clean was very important. My mother’s a science teacher who supports eco-friendly methods. My father is a mechanical engineer who partners with sustainable energy electronic companies for some projects. Sustainable energy. That was it.

My Mother’s Influence Immediately, mother was on board for the sustainable energy project. While saving the rainforest was her original suggestion, she approved of getting a solar panel right away. After all, it is proven that solar energy has a positive effect on the environment. I can safely say that growing up in an environment that focused on eco-friendly methods is partially responsible for this project.

My Dad’s Projects My dad was a huge influence on my project. As stated before, my dad is a mechanical engineer, and he has worked on various sustainable energy projects. The most recent project he worked on that initiated this whole idea was a hospital. I felt that if a place where they help people can help the environment and, ultimately, the world, why can’t I?

The Beginning I had Solar Services contacted before my proposal was even green-lighted. This probably wasn’t the best thing to do, but I knew I was going to tailor my project however I needed to in order to make sure I could do it somehow. They immediately contacted me back, and the partnership was formed. Thankfully, shortly after that, my project was green-lighted, and the chore to raise money for the project began.

The Plan The plan was simple: raise enough money to order a solar panel for the school. We’re the global studies academy, so I figured it was important to set an example that we’re not only interested in just the languages and cultures, but the overall welfare of our world as well. While the plan was simple, the funding was not. With a price tag of $300, the panel was something a little pricier than the average student could afford. This seemed problematic. So the first thing I did was create a backup plan: A) If I couldn’t completely raise the money it would serve as a donation or B) I would raise enough to buy solar chargers for the radios and PDAs used by the staff.

How did I make the money? Well, the original plan was to fundraise via selling chocolate. I secured a job earlier on in the year, shortly after the paper was finished, and started funding the project out of my paycheck. I was paid bi-weekly, so I took out 100 each for a grand total of three paychecks in a period of six weeks. This meant it took me a little over a month to get the money for the panels.

My Paper My paper was 23 pages long and spoke of the benefits of solar energy in contrast to convention energy methods. It also focused on sustainable energy as a whole and attempted to answer the unanswerable question of whether or not a sustainable society could truly exist in this world. My general conclusion was that until the world can spend its resources wisely, a sustainable society is out of the question.

So what is a sustainable society? A sustainable society is a society which is completely run on sustainable methods and functions to an optimal state. Unfortunately, at the present state, it is not plausible to foresee a sustainable society. The economy is too unstable, and sustainable energy is still expensive.

Is there hope for one? Yes! There is definitely hope for a sustainable society. Sustainable energy is becoming more and more affordable. There are now many payment plans and tax claim eligibilities that involve sustainable energy. Once people realize the overall profit from sustainable energy, more will be sure to convert, hopefully to the point of eventually being entirely sustainable.

Back to the Project The whole thing was a time-crunch. I was constantly worried whether or not I was going to be able to make all the money needed for the panels. This ended up being a real stretch for me because I’ve never been completely in control of an important project; something that I had to orchestrate. Despite the fact that I felt a little overwhelmed, I can honestly say I enjoyed this project.

Ultimately … We ended up raising enough for the recharge panels. This will be donated, and the money was funded out of pocket. As long as we have set an example for the other schools, I will consider this project a success.

Legacy? It is my hope that students in the future will be interested in continuing this project. One day, hopefully Tallwood will be completely run on solar energy. After all, we are the global studies academy; I hope we can prove that we are a key player in making the world a better place.

Thanks Again Special thanks to: -Mr. DeMott -My Mother -My Father -Solar Services -All my friends who supported me