1. Leland Public School’s Best Option For Renewable Energy
Solar Energy
Leland Public School’s Best Option For Renewable Energy

2. Solar Energy: Definition
Solar power…energy made from the sun’s radiation. As the sun emits radiation and it penetrates the ozone layer in the stratosphere, it’s collected by large, blue solar panels that run it through its internal systems and generate electricity from it.

3. Solar Panel Basics
When light, hits the power cells inside of the blue panel, it causes disruption in the negatively charged and positively charged electrons to separate. When that happens, different electrons of the positively charged will spill into the negative side of the field, causing much electrical neutrality disruption. The electron flow will provide the current, and the power cell’s electric field causes the current. The combination of the two will produce power for the devices that we use.
But, there is a power collector that collects energy during the electrical distortion, so, even if there is no sunlight, you can still use solar energy.

4. Cost of Solar Power
The current cost for electricity at Leland Public School is $73, per year.
Currently, the average cost for solar power is about $0.25-$0.30 per kilowatt hour. That would only increase the cost about $1,000.

5. Required Workforce About 30-40 people are needed for installation
To operate them, the technology department, and possibly the maintenance department, would operate and repair on a daily basis
The required money needed to pay the laborers would be cheap, at an estimate of about $14.00-$21.00 per hour per person, or, if it takes six months to install, from $57, $85, per six months per person. But the expenses will most likely be lower.

6. Pros of Solar Energy
Currently, the world is experiencing a predicted shortage of non-renewable resources. (e.g. coal, oil, natural gas) Many countries are switching to alternative energy, including many Southeastern Asian countries, Brazil, and Mexico.
Solar power is very beneficial, too. It is the most widely available renewable resource in the world. The first widely known case of using a solar panel or box was in 1838, when John Herschel used a solar box to cook food during an expedition in Africa.
The usage of solar power is also cheaper than some of the other renewable sources, and is less of a danger to the environment.

7. Cons of Solar Energy
Even though the pros outnumber the cons at about five to one, there are two major cons that needed to be pointed out.
One is that there is an inconsistency of the amount of solar radiation coming into contact with a certain area of the Earth.
The other con is that not much sunlight hits a specific area. So, it would require a very large solar panel(s) to supply the amount of power needed for the school.
But, even with the two setbacks, we still believe that we can do this.

8. Efficiency Rates of Solar Power
The efficiency rates of solar panels today is 11%-30% efficiency. Every year, efficiency rates for solar panels rise by one or two percent.
The more efficient the panel, the more expensive it is, but only by about $3,000 per 1% more efficient.
However, the more efficient a solar panel is, the less energy will be needed for a certain area, which means less energy needed to be used, therefore less money will be paid. It will be worth it.

9. The Final Word
Solar energy really is the best option for Leland Public School. We can only hope that you will choose it for the alternative energy source. It will do a good deed for the school, save money, and save the environment.

10. Credits
Ethan Cline, Clarke Morgan, Luke Weisen, Elijah Berg, and Jesse Garcia
Ms. Jenifer Morgan
Leland Public School
Mrs. Kelsey Lacross