Brawley ROP students building solar-powered home [Rahus -Solar Schoolhouse - Imperial Valley]

source: Heather Bremner IV Press 2005.3.24

c. beltran photo (From left) Josh Friley, 17, and Adan Barajas, Rick Mascareno
and Jesus De Dios, all 18, experiment with photovoltaic light boxes with Randy Smith,
an Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program construction instructor and
architect drafting teacher at Brawley Union High School.

Sunlight. That's one thing we have plenty of here in the Valley. Yet, few locals have bottled up the precious commodity and turned it into a source of energy and cash. That's changing. Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program students at Brawley Union High spent a week, four hours a day, learning how solar energy works and how to install the rare system.

Thanks to a $20,000 grant from the Imperial Irrigation District, Randy Smith's ROP students will build a fully equipped solar energy home.

In April, the students will break ground on a plot that sits on the corner of Ninth and K streets in Brawley.

Whoever buys the home will be eligible for tax breaks for capturing sunlight and converting it to electricity.

Rebates are also now available from IID Energy for homeowners and businesses who wish to install solar electric systems on their rooftops.

Although we live in a sun-drenched area, harnessing solar energy is almost unheard of in the Valley.

Homeowners or contractors have to be willing to drop a chunk of cash (at least $12,000) to install a solar system, but in the end, they'll save more than they will spend, said Smith.

Since few construction workers are familiar with the systems, his students will have invaluable knowledge once they enter the workforce, said Smith.

They can make from $30 to $40 an hour installing the alternate energy systems, he said. "We need to harness solar energy, so we don't burn up all our fossil fuels," said Smith.

Students set up the array mockup for testing (left), Testing modules (center), and work on wiring the inverter and balance of system (BOS) [photos: T.Allen/K.Sutton - Rahus]

Brawley's ROP students have built five homes in the area. Students will work on the Ninth Street house in the grueling summer heat during the six weeks of summer school.

It takes about one year for the class to build a house. Once it's complete, Smith gets the house appraised. The bidder who asks for a price closest to the appraised figure gets the home.

Smith uses the funds to buy materials for the next home.

For students such as Jose Godoy, 17, who aren't interested in going to college, the ROP program is a perfect fit.

This is Jose's second year in the program, and he's positive that construction will be his future.

"I'm going to definitely keep on going with this, probably for the rest of my life," said the high school senior.

Jose said he didn't know anything about building a home before joining the class. School officials need to realize that college-prep courses aren't for everyone.

"I'd rather do this than actual school," he said.

Project Partners -

Rahus Institute - Solar Schoolhouse Program - project coordinator for including solar in the project. Tor Allen contact.

Solar Energy International - Colorado based organization. Conducted the weeklong training session at Brawley High School

Imperial Valley Regional Occupation Program - The Brawley construction course is part of this program, preparing students for the work world.

Brawley High School - already host of a 12 kW gridtie solar electric system. Working to integrate solar energy educational activities in a variety of ways. Randy Smith is the ROP construction class instructor.

The SunWorks - Michael Gohl - local installer providing materials and consultation for the project.

Imperial Irrigation District - Through a grant managed by The Rahus Institute, IID provided funding for the solar course and materials for the project.