Flagstaff, Arizona is home to STAR School, the first public elementary school in America to be completely dependent on solar power. In addition to solar panels, STAR School also has wind generators and a small propane tank on standby for consecutive cloudy days. The school’s architecture showcases large open windows facing the south and few, small windows toward the north to maximize heat generation and containment. The school teaches 130 students each year ranging from K-8th grade. STAR School promotes “self-reliance, alternative building methods, and energy sources such as solar and wind power”, values based heavily on local Navajo tradition. By becoming the first elementary school to showcase the feasibility of solar energy, STAR School is setting the example for many to follow.
Photo Credit: The STAR School.
