By Duncan Schulte
Delta Solar was founded by a group of friends and students as a part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Coronado High School in El Paso, Texas. The rigorous diploma program requires a Community Action Service (CAS) project. Our CAS project was started with the goal of being a collaborative community initiative seeking to educate the public about the processes, applications, and viability of solar energy. Living in the “Sun City,” we felt we could reach out to people and hopefully educate and/or change (hence the Delta) their minds about what this solar energy hype is all about.
Fortunately, working with the El Paso Solar Energy Association (EPSEA), we received a $1000 grant through their partnership with the Texas Solar Energy Society—thanks TXSES! So what have we done? As Delta Solar we have researched and educated ourselves about the economic and environmental potential of solar energy. We bought the necessary equipment to set up demonstrations and presentations as a way to use our new found knowledge to actually teach and network with the public about how solar energy can be a unique asset to their lives. We use a wide variety of equipment ranging from two 45 watt solar arrays to power fans and radios, to other photovoltaic pieces such as toys and water fountains, that demonstrate how the sun’s energy can be used to produce electricity.
We also demonstrate other types of solar energy. Our concentrated solar power demonstration, a solar oven, is popular because we bake cookies and hand them out to the people we talk to. Since beginning this project we have done presentations including:
• “Party for the Planet” at the El Paso Zoo for Earth Day
• “Sunset Heights Block Party” of El Paso
• 2010 Boy Scouts of America camp; featuring hands-on construction of solar ovens, solar cookie baking, and solar basics for over 180 scouts
• An extensive tour of Ft. Bliss’ solar and renewable energy installations
• We are planning presentations at Ardovino’s “Farmer’s Market,” the El Paso Zoo, as well as high schools.
This project has shown us how little people know about solar energy, but also how they support our initiative by engaging in the conversation of renewable energy. We plan to continue to take to the road, educating our community and giving El Pasoans an opportunity to invest some thought in the future of solar energy.
Duncan Schulte is a co-founder of Delta Solar and a senior at Coronado High School in El Paso