Chosen as one of four Montgomery County Public Schools, Watkins Mill High School will have solar panels installed by late October because of its new rooftop and great location.

MCPS entered a partnership with SunSolar, which gave its schools a chance to purchase solar panels at a reduced rate. School business administrator Julie Broyles said, “They wanted a roof that was most conducive for generating energy, and ours was one of those.”   

The panels are in the first of three phases of installation, which will take six to eight weeks and will start generating energy by late December or early January. With 1080 panels being spread across the entire width of the school’s roof, they will generate a maximum of 272 Kilowatts when the sun is at its highest point.

Based on last year’s electric bill, WMHS spent nearly half a million dollars just on energy. Principal Carol Goddard said that the first time she visited the school, almost every room had its own mini fridge and very old microwaves. “Nothing was efficient. It was old, old little heaters, old little microwaves, old little coffee makers in almost every room,” Goddard added.  

With the decision to get solar panels, WMHS is taking additional steps toward becoming more “green.” The students and staff are working to be more cautious of their energy usage by turning off lights, computers and Promethean boards when not in use and by promoting recycling and energy-efficient technology.

Though the solar panels will not be the main source of the school’s energy, it will be a very significant source that hopefully will cut the electric bill. “We are working hard as a school to save energy,” Broyles said.

The building services staff, as well as the rest of  school’s staff, were happy with Goddard’s decision because the extra money that will be saved from using the panels will be spent on more energy efficient and eco-friendly technology. Goddard and Broyles are very excited to be part of this project of becoming an environmentally conscious school.