School Solar Pavilions for Middle School Students: A Youth-Led Community-based PV Project

摘要

Our team of five high school youth scholars, leaders and innovators, began our journey four years ago with these interests in mind: to understand how solar energy works, how photovoltaics engineered systems are applied, and how they could be used to improve our community. From Day 1, our goal has been the same: design a solar innovation to tackle a lack of equity in access and affordability in the sustainable, clean energy revolution for our community. For four years, we have remained committed to one design challenge: How might we design and implement a School Solar Pavilion in a Title 1 Elementary School District in our neighborhood, inspire students under-resourced in STEM, create a safe space for outdoor learning, and increase access to clean, affordable energy in our community? In this paper, we describe our journey and suggest ways adult collaborators can support youth to accomplish real work with real consequences for themselves and their communities.