A group of 30 students in the Green Technology Energy and Conservation course, called GTEC for short, spent Tuesday and Wednesday outdoors, completing their first community solar installation project.
The class, taught by instructor Kahri Boykin, focuses on energy conservation, lighting standards and how to measure energy. This week, students put that knowledge into practice by installing solar electric systems in two homes, one in Merced and one in the Beachwood-Franklin area.
To complete the project, the students received the guidance of professionals at GRID Alternatives, the school district’s Green Industry partner. Earlier this year, the schools partnered with GRID to provide on-the-job training for these students in response to parent and community stakeholders’ request for more opportunities in energy and power technical education.
According to Boykin, green technology is one of the fastest growing industries in the state. Giving students this type of training makes them more employable, he said.
Adrian Sanchez, the solar installation supervisor with GRID, said students who complete training and testing receive certification, which can give them a leg up when they go out to the work force.
“Experience – that’s their golden ticket,” Sanchez said.
The partnership also pushes for women to join the green technology initiatives. The class has a number of female students, which Boykin considers a success since it can be difficult to attract young women who want to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, he said.
The solar projects are beneficial not only for students, but also for families in the community who will save money on their electric bill. By supporting local green job training, GRID Alternatives is able to get extra hands from students and volunteers in installing solar electric systems in the homes of low-income families, Sanchez and Boykin explained.
As the demand for solar installations in the community increases, Boykin said, so will the hands-on opportunities for students of this course.
©2015 the Merced Sun-Star (Merced, Calif.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
