Anaheim Public Utilities presented “You Are The Advantage” Award for work on the Solar for Schools project at Esperanza

On Tuesday, December 11, 2018, the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) Board of Education honored Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) with the “You Are The Advantage” Award for their work on the Solar for Schools project at Esperanza High School.

The “You Are The Advantage” Award recognizes community members, organizations, and employees who embody the District’s four core values – excellence, collaboration, integrity, and innovation.

The Anaheim Public Utilities Solar for Schools Program installs and maintains solar panel shade structures at local public schools throughout the city. This initiative moves the City of Anaheim closer to its goal of getting half of its power from renewable energy sources by 2030, and also generates annual income for the District. Esperanza was selected as one of just nine schools to be a part of the project’s phase one.

Esperanza’s new solar panel car ports.

As a result, the Esperanza Aztecs received two large rows of carport solar panels installed in their student parking lot off of Kellogg Avenue at no cost to the District. These panels produce 1.25 million kilowatt hours each year, which equates to 192 homes-worth of annual energy use savings. In addition, the panels also reduce 930 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

The panels not only serve as a new source of clean and renewable energy in the community, but they also give Esperanza a future-ready appearance and offer students and visitors a shaded place to park. In addition, students in the school’s Aztec Engineering and Manufacturing Academy are able to monitor the solar panels’ real-time energy production and utilize the data for academic research.

“Throughout the extent of this project, from concept to product, Anaheim Public Utilities exemplified the District’s four core values with an unwavering commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, and innovation,” shared Assistant Superintendent, David Giordano.

In attendance on behalf of APU that evening was General Manager, Dukku Lee, Assistant General Manager, Graham Bowen, Product Manager, Mark Brownrigg, and Communications Supervisor, Melissa Seifen.

The District appreciates Anaheim Public Utilities’ continued partnership, and congratulates their organization on receiving this award! Thank you, APU!