WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Blowing in the Wind
Danville, Vermont - December 8, 2004
It takes a lot to light up the Danville school. From all the bright bulbs in the hallway, to the computers in the classrooms.
But in addition to the hum of electric, there's something else helping power the school.
Behind the school, there is a wind mill.
"When we see it spinning it is a really good thing," said John Rapoza the school information technology coordinator..
The turbine was bought with the help of a federal grant. It was part of a new project to help look at alternative energy.
A meter keeps track of how much energy the wind makes.
The windmill project has been turning here at the Danville school for about a year and the results were not at all what school officials had expected.
"The windmill is not quite producing as much energy as we had hoped," said Rapoza.
In a year the wind turbine saved the school about $370.00 compare that to a monthly electric bill for the school of $4000. One reason for the lower then expected savings, the blades were experimental and did not work well. The manufacturer is going to replace them.
"They are going to come out and replace the blades with some newer blades that will do about a third better for production," said Rapoza.
The school says every little bit helps. And more importantly then saving on the bottom line, they see the wind turbine as educational for the kids. An up close way to learn about alternative energy, it's something the students say they now think more about.
Brittany Swartzenberg is a 10th grader. "It is one of those things that you want to make sure for your kids get older the air is clean for them."
"This is something that all of all are going to have to look at in our future," said Rapoza.
The Danville School wind energy project was just given an award by the Governor for environmental excellence in education and outreach.
Kristin Carlson - Channel 3 News
