News & Resources
Hudsonville energy program draws on wind, sun, recycling
Original article posted November 22, 2010 at www.mlive.com
The new wind energy turbine at Hudsonville High School is perched on the hill that once held bleachers overlooking a football field, the highest point on the 32nd Avenue campus. It’s positioned to catch the dominant winds coming in from the west. When wind speed is about 6 miles per hour or more, the blades will turn to power a generator linked to the school’s power grid.
On the south side of the high school building is a one-kilowatt solar panel awning that will harness energy on sunny days. That energy also will contribute to the school’s power needs.
Near the solar panel, rising from the southeast corner of the building, is an electronic weather monitoring station that will provide detailed weather information. It will help determine the efficiency of the turbine and the awning, using data gathered over a period of up to three years.
Head custodian Kirk Nederveld had come in contact with similar programs
while visiting other schools on the east side of the state. He urged
Webster to investigate. Webster enlisted senior Matt Bryker, who was
looking for an independent study project, to help write the grant. The
environmental strategies class has joined in under Matt’s leadership.
“It wasn’t just one person that made it happen,” said Webster. “You had
staff, teachers, and students, and contributions from local businesses.”
“It’s been my job to help tell students about the program and get them
involved,” said Matt. He said he is interested in the field of
alternative energy and environmental engineering as career
possibilities, but right now, is happy to be learning more about the
possibilities for the school and community.
Webster said the program will become part of the
science curriculum, and students will be able to see how their own
awareness makes a difference in the environment. Already the turbine and
panel have generated 14.5 kilowatt-hours of energy, which translates
into 24.8 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions avoided. Data from the
program will be available on a website for everyone to see.
By: Cathy Runyon
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