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Energy Climate Action Day is February 4!
Energy > Clean Energy (Solar)
Solar energy is economical, educational, and environmentally friendly. Instead of generating electricity by burning fossil fuels, solar power systems capture clean energy from the sun. Using this sustainable technology is important to reduce greenhouse gases and make our City more resilient to climate change.
NYC Solar Schools
NYC Solar Schools
New York City established a goal of installing 100 megawatts of solar capacity on City owned buildings by 2030. School buildings are ideal candidates, and with 130 completed solar PV installations on school rooftops, our program makes up over 80% of the City’s progress toward its target. More than 90 additional school buildings are in the planning process for solar installations.
For a building to be “solar ready,” it must be at least 10,000 square feet, have a roof no older than 10 years, and be in good structural condition. In the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ (DCAS) most recent report on the solar readiness of City-owned buildings from October 2024, DCAS identified 289 buildings as "solar ready," many of which are NYC Public School buildings.
Climate Energy Education Intensive
Climate Energy Education Intensive
Producing solar energy onsite not only reduces emissions, but turns NYC schools into renewable energy education labs. The NYCPS Office of Energy & Sustainability, STEM Department, and Solar One developed the Climate Energy Education Intensive, which offers:
Professional Learning with up to 5 CTLE credits.
Access to full Green Design Lab curriculum, which includes hands-on activities that align with the NYSSLS and NYS Science Regents and compliment Amplify curriculum to investigate local phenomena around renewable energy and energy conservation.
Free classroom materials including a classroom set of circuit supplies.
Opportunities to apply for free classroom visits and 1-on-1 lesson planning with a Solar One educator (limited availability).
Eligibility to be selected to receive a Demonstration Solar system for your school's campus.
Best practices from a community of teachers incorporating sustainability and climate change content into curriculum.
Read an in-depth case study on the program by the Building Energy Exchange.
The fall 2025 professional learning series is complete. Check back for fall 2026 dates.
NYC Solar Career & technical education (CTE) Program
NYC Solar Career & technical education (CTE) Program
This program, also offered in partnership with Solar One, integrates clean energy and sustainability content into existing electrical and engineering courses at CTE High Schools with the goal of preparing students for workforce opportunities.
During the program, Solar One educators visit each school for two weeks to facilitate program content and co-teach with classroom teachers. Topics covered include: benefits of solar, solar site assessment, solar circuits, mountings and installing electrical components, and associated careers. The Solar CTE program concludes with a capstone project where students work in groups to install four 200 watt stand-alone solar systems. In addition to wiring all of the system components, students learn how to mount the panels using the most common method of rooftop solar mounting in NYC: ballasted mounting.
See further details here.
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