Part of the appeal of solar power is that it can be a long-term money saver. Homeowners and businesses are increasingly turning to solar power as a means of lowering energy costs while reducing their environmental footprint at the same time.

One place where solar power is really seeing growth is in schools, not just in the United States but around the world. Just as communities look to schools as an investment in their children, governmental groups are looking at solar energy as a viable investment in schools themselves.

Lowering the Bills

In many cash-strapped U.S. cities, school districts often face a never-ending battle for funding. In some communities, programs are cut, teachers are laid off and performances can suffer. These tight financial situations have districts looking for ways to keep their programs as robust as possible while maintaining low costs.

In many Sun Belt states, solar energy use in schools has seen a major boon. Arizona districts have been adding solar panels to school projects for years, with massive savings realized.

“Utilities are the second largest expenditure in the school district’s budget, right under personnel costs. On average the district spends just over $4.1 million annually,” said Tamara Crawley of the Marana Unified School District. “Through lowering utility expenses, dollars can be allocated to other areas in the maintenance and operations school budget.

“The addition of solar at the District’s remaining schools will save an additional $175,000 annually.”

This Arizona story is part of a growing trend. In California, where budgetary issues in education have been increasing for years now, schools have turned to solar as a way to keep teachers from being laid off. The savings have been so substantial that more schools every year are going solar to save money by providing cheap energy.

Let There be Light

While U.S. school districts look to solar as a cost saver, the energy source is also helping people put schools where they haven’t been able to before.Take, for instance, the deserts of Pakistan.

The warm, arid, sun-drenched days in this South Asian country would seem perfect for solar energy. With this in mind, a group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been working in Pakistan and other countries to bring power to schools that, until now, had been without it. Only about 4 percent of Pakistani schools have electricity.

According to a Pakistani official, “Solar-powered water pumps have also been installed on dug wells to haul water from the depth of 300 feet, which have provided water for sanitation, hygiene and growing trees.

“This model has provided a ray of hope for marginalized people that their children can get a quality education and pave the way for a better future.”

As solar power usage grows among homeowners and businesses, it is now beginning to see growth in other areas. Now, this cheap, long-term energy source is being used to keep U.S. schools at the top of their game and to bring power to schools in remote parts of the world.

That’s not bad for an energy source that will save schools millions and millions of dollar over time.

If you’d like to find out how installing solar panels on your roof can help you drive your electric bill down to zero, contact us today for a free quote.