Solar Energy and the Environment:
Calculating the Environmental Benefits
In 2011 the Gregory School installed one of the largest solar energy systems in a Tucson school.
This calculation is updated hourly to provide up-to-date estimates of our environmental impact.
Curious about the math behind these stats? View the intricacies of the calculation process here.
Curriculum integration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at The Gregory School.
Operating more sustainably means taking a close look at how key campus structures function and consume resources.
The Gregory School sustainability initiatives have an ongoing commitment to sustainability research and education. This commitment translates into developing classroom solutions to real-life challenges, such as minimizing and mitigating TGS’ energy and enviromental impact.
Energy production data sets
for class projects & analysis
This information is useful for various classes that require large datasets, helping students learn data interpretation, analysis, and predictive modeling.
Data & Energy Analysis Tools
The solar energy data visualized on this page is derived from the real-time readouts of a solar energy meter. This device tracks the total energy production, we record a timestamped data point each time the meter is read. Our in-house system fetches these values periodically and stores them in a database. An algorithm then calculates the differences between consecutive readouts, yielding the energy produced during those intervals. Using simple arithmetic, we determine daily averages, which are further aggregated for weekly, monthly, and annual stats. This information is then dynamically rendered on our site, offering a granular view of solar energy production over time.
The Envirometal Benefits calculation at the top of this page uses the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies to estimate the environmental impact of our energy production and CO2 emissions. See Calculations & References for equations and sources used. By inputting energy data, the calculator computes the amount of CO2 emissions reduced and converts these savings into equivalent units, such as gallons of gasoline saved or acres of forests preserved.
If any students are interested in further exploration or need help with their class projects related to this, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Babbitt or Mr. Henriksan.
