solar solutions for schools, libraries, and other educational facilities

Did you know that classrooms lit with natural daylight:

actually lead to higher student test scores
create an atmosphere more conducive to learning and cooperation

That’s right, Mother Nature knows how to help students reach their potential, both academically and socially. No wonder more schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and day care centers are installing solar daylighting devices. It can improve academic performance and boost teacher retention, and districts can save big on operating costs.

Improve Academic Performance and Increase Teacher Retention
In a study tracking 21,000 students in three states over a one-year period, students in classrooms with the most daylighting scored 20% higher on math tests and 26% higher on reading tests, compared to those with the least amount of daylighting.(1)

On the flip side, classrooms without daylight can have a negative effect on children’s ability to concentrate and cooperate, and may even eventually impact annual body growth and absence due to illness. One year-long study of 90 school children, conducted in Sweden, showed that a lack of daylight can disrupt internal body clocks, resulting in significant psychological and physiological impairment.(2) In another study, the use of natural light in classrooms reduced reported incidents of aggressive, disruptive, and destructive behavior.(3)

Natural lighting can also reduce eye strain and fatigue, which helps not only students but also teachers, day care workers, and librarians. Together, improved student performance, increased productivity, and a more healthful environment for workers can create big benefits in a school district. Instructor turnover, for example, can be a budget drain and a morale buster. In a recent survey of 1,000 U.S. teachers, 89% reported that classroom design was important for teacher retention. Since natural daylighting improves employee satisfaction, it can help increase retention.

Big Help for Tight Budgets
Another huge benefit of solar daylighting is cost savings. School districts typically find close to half their annual utility costs is for lighting alone! As more and more school districts face greater budget deficits and constraints, cutting lighting costs becomes more attractive…even urgent. And because solar daylighting devices are maintenance free (they even work during power outages), those savings continue for the life of the school! As a bonus, schools and libraries that go solar help reduce grid load because they’re open during peak demand hours (11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). This reduced demand benefits the entire community!

Call Solargreen today at 303.295.7652 or 970.493.8241 or email us to learn how we can help your school or district boost performance, increase retention, and cut energy costs.

¹Heschong Mahone Group for Pacific Gas & Electric Company (www.h-m-g.com)

²National Renewable Energy Laboratory Report, “Daylighting in Schools: Improving Student Performance
and Health at a Price Schools Can Afford,” 2000.

³International Journal of Biosocial Research