Image: SDJA
The San Diego Jewish Academy's project design includes a roadmap to develop its campus into a micro-grid, allowing SDJA to become completely self-sufficient in meeting its energy requirements.
In 2020, the San Diego Jewish Academy (SDJA) began installation of an 800-kW solar plant, the first step in its plan to achieve energy independence.
“SDJA’s vision of an ambitious, forward looking Sustainability Initiative (SI) is part of our strategic efforts to become both environmentally sustainable, and become even stronger financially,” says Zvi Weiss, Head of School. “The initiative is a direct reflection of our Jewish value of Shomrei Adamah, to protect the earth.”
The school’s approximately 600 students, in its early education and K-12 curriculums, will see the principle of caring for God's earth--and its generations of inhabitants--at work in their daily lives.
The project includes the installation of 1,953 solar panels on about 50,000 square feet of the school’s building rooftops, as well as on 30,000 square feet of newly constructed carports in its upper school parking lot. The project is expected to be completed in March 2021 and is expected to save the school about $400,000 annually in energy costs, once a large 1 megawatt-hour battery storage unit is completed in the second quarter.
Helix Electric is handling the design-build project.
Solar and beyond
The school’s vision extends beyond installation of the solar-power system, says Michael Zimerman, the school’s chief sustainability officer. “Technology has gone beyond solar, shifting toward solar-storage and then on to distributed generation and microgrids,” he added.
The school’s plans envision adding natural gas generation to supplement its solar array, providing the campus with energy resources to meet its entire daily needs.
San Diego Jewish Academy is installing solar panels on most of the school’s building rooftops, as well as on newly constructed carports in its Upper School parking lot.
By achieving energy independence, Zimerman says the school:
* Will be taking significant steps to guard the environment by making maximum use of renewable energy;
* Is creating an opportunity for its students and staff to learn about cutting-edge technology from first-hand observation;
* Will be avoiding periodic electric outages, such as the Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) implemented in San Diego County in early December to prevent inadvertent wildfires sparked by high winds.
“The economics are there,” as well, says Zimerman, pointing out that the declining cost of solar infrastructure makes the school’s investment a sound one. Still, he notes that a thorough assessment of the complex array of solar credits, rebates, and other assistance can ensure that any institution maximizes the economic benefits of a renewable-energy project.
As envisioned, the solar panels will provide power to run the facility during the day, while the battery system will serve to handle the energy demands during early morning and evening hours. The natural gas generation will handle overnight load.
As envisioned, the solar panels will provide power to run the facility during the day, while the battery system will serve to handle the energy demands during early morning and evening hours.
“The thermal component (natural gas generation) adds a lot of resiliency to the system,” Zimerman notes.
The school will be applying for designation as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School. “In addition to reducing environmental impacts and costs, and improving the health and wellness of our students, the Green Ribbon designation also entails environmental and sustainability educational programming.
“We envision our SDJA students learning the technology and operating the controls of the eventual micro-grid on our campus, with the goal of becoming the first K-12 independent school to install a fully self-sufficient microgrid, along with many other great educational experiences,” Zimerman says.
The Jewish Academy’s plan to create a sustainable microgrid fits into the Department of Education’s goal to “strive for 21st-century excellence by highlighting promising school sustainability practices and resources that all can employ.”
The school’s microgrid demonstrates another model, one where energy is created close to where it is needed, reducing the need for expensive central plants and transmission lines, while increasing local reliability.
Today, energy is largely created in large central power plants, with the electricity sent for miles over large transmission lines to smaller lines that distribute the power to neighborhoods and businesses. The school’s microgrid demonstrates another model, one where energy is created close to where it is needed, reducing the need for expensive central plants and transmission lines, while increasing local reliability.
“We are on the cusp of an energy revolution, and distributed generation is the key to that pathway,” Zimerman says.
How it began
The school began its journey to renewable energy the same way as many other organizations. It did an energy audit, coupled with a cultural audit. In addition to tracking how and where the facility now uses its energy, Zimerman asked students, staff, administrators and others to pinpoint what they did well and what areas could be targeted going forward.
The Jewish Academy used the principle of Shomrei Adamah, a precept that views the protection of the earth is a human responsibility, to guide the project.
“In addition to directly off-setting the pollution produced by any non-renewable energy sources that we would otherwise be pulling from the grid, we are using our existing developed footprint to produce our own power,” Zimerman says. “Because we are lessening the load on the overall electrical system, no trees need to be cut down or habitats need to be disturbed to make room for that next 800 kW of power that needs to come online.”
It’s more than that, Zimerman adds.
The school’s approximately 600 students, in its early education and K-12 curriculums, will see that principle at work in their daily lives. “The next generation will be inheriting the earth that we leave for them and we need to show the care that we have for both them, the planet, and future possibilities.
“Even if this project didn’t save us $400,000 a year (which will go right back into our education delivery) and simply matched our current expense, it would still be worth it if it gave hope to or inspired our students,” says Zimerman.
