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LCPS's commitment to improving the school system's environmental impact by installing solar arrays on schools that have undergone energy efficient upgrades, allowing a lower reliance on fossil fuels. 

Through renewable energy, PV panels composted of photoelectric cells convert light directly into electricity.  This energy flows into an inverter which converts the DC current into AC current, similar to that of the power grid. This solar electricity current can then power all the computers, lights, plug loads in the school. Power comes directly from the solar inverter and any leftover electricity can then feed back into the grid. Each school with a solar array will have a lower electric utility need. If a facility needs more electricity than the grid-conducted solar system produces, that power will simply come from the main power grid of Dominion or Novec. On the other hand, if more energy is produced than what is used, a credit for the surplus electricity will be applied to the electric bill. The links on the right will show real time solar generation for each school listed.  

LCPS has a goal of installing 25.2 MW- DC of solar arrays across 53 buildings. 

JM Lunsford MS

In 2013 a photovoltaic array composed of 72 solar panels and a nominal output of 9995 Watts was installed at JM Lunsford MS.  Lunsford also has a solar water heating array composed of 16 solar collectors. The total generation capacity of the on-site renewable energy is estimated to serve only 1% of the total energy used at Lunsford MS. The dashboard provides real-time energy information regarding this solar installation. 

Solar Energy at Simpson Middle School from LCPS-TV on Vimeo.