simple sunshine is creating a unique
opportunity for students here at
Ridgeview high school
the sustainable and renewable energy
technologies class recently installed
solar panels just behind the school we
wanted to be able to rotate this to
where we could point it in any direction
to where the Sun is the Virginia
Department of Mines minerals and energy
assisted Ridgeview in securing solar
panels the agency saw it as an
opportunity to continue training an
energy workforce in Southwest Virginia
but around a different power source we
know coal is has sustained our community
for a very long time and although coal
is still very important to our community
we need to think about the next
generation going green is very important
not only for our community but for our
country as a whole
while all of their futures may not lie
in green energy the renewable energy
project is equipping students with
variety of skills to the question they
are they learn how to work with
electricity we with our aquaponics and
hydroponics learn how to work with water
and you know plumbing electrical type
work soldering you know it's a lot of
different skills it takes a lot when you
start from scratch to put a system
together the students designed the base
they wired the panels and they connected
the system to the school's greenhouse I
designed the layout for the batteries
and the frame for the solar panels and
how they would all be wired together to
this system a system I put on the
through where it would get to the roots
that waters the plants but with like the
aquaponics and aeroponics you have that
watering just happening on its own and
there's not as much like maintenance and
upkeep for it so it's a lot easier on
the people that are taking care of the
greenhouse soon these panels and the
wind turbine will be automated thanks to
a program designed by you guessed it a
student the power from the solar panels
go to an Arduino and that's kind of like
the brains of the operation there will
be multiple sensors attached to it like
a temperature sensor a humidity sensor
and
drama ders at every table so we know how
much water to give the plants and how
much to increase the temperature but
once complete the information from these
panels will be available as live updates
on the school's website students give
the class rave reviews and receive
grades based on their hands-on
contributions the class has even gotten
a few thinking about the future stuff
like this has really made me very very
interested in it and it's gave me a
really good insight about how energy can
be you know a better there's the energy
and better ways how you can just take
energy from the Sun and turn it into
something that we can use
I just find it mind-boggling and
fascinating it's going to be essential
in the years to come Dickinson County
educators say opportunities like these
meet their goals in ensuring their
students are college and career ready
now we're teaching for jobs that were
even unsure what they are as long as the
wind is blowing and the Sun is shining
at Ridge view you can be sure that young
minds are gaining invaluable experience
for a bright future
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