Here comes the sun.It's it's 1. Contraction of it is. 2. Contraction of it has. See Usage Note at its. it's it is or it has it's be ~have easy to view solar power as an environmental and potential cost-saving issue for schools. But leave it to the Sunshine State to go a step further with a solar power curriculum push. Through its SunSmart Schools program, Florida Florida, state, United States Florida (flôr`ĭdə, flŏr`–), state in the extreme SE United States. A long, low peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean (E) and the Gulf of Mexico (W), Florida is bordered by Georgia and is the latest state to help bring solar electric photovoltaic The generation of voltage by a material that is exposed to light in the visible and invisible ranges. See photoelectric and photovoltaic cell. systems to local schools. The program partners districts with electric utilities and corporate sponsors to encourage the installation of PV systems, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Of the 49 schools that applied, 29 were awarded rebates to help cover conversion costs. Each system includes a monitoring package for collecting weather and system performance data, which students from any school, anywhere can view live at www.energywhiz.com. The sites have received multi-disciplinary solar education materials that others can access this summer by visiting the Web site of the Florida Solar Energy solar energy, any form of energy radiated by the sun, including light, radio waves, and X rays, although the term usually refers to the visible light of the sun. Center, the University of Central Florida “UCF” redirects here. For other uses, see UCF (disambiguation). UCF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida. UCF was founded in 1963 as Florida Technological University with the goal of providing highly trained personnel to support the Kennedy research facility that's administering SunSmart. Four grade-level units were developed based on state and national standards. "All activities are hands-on, built on investigations, so students learn by doing," says Penny Hall of the FSEC's education department. Students use PV panels, propellers and other materials to explore topics such as solar water heating Water heating is a thermodynamic process using an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water are for cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating. In industry both hot water and water heated to steam have many uses. and cooling and hydrogen collection. "The nice thing is it's not a lecture.... The kids learn by playing with the stuff," she explains. But the curriculum has a greater purpose. "This is technology they will use in the future when they become consumers," Hall says. And as energy issues become a greater priority, industry growth will mean a need for workers. Today's students are "going to need the tools and the interest to jump into these types of careers." fsec.ucf.edu/pvt/projects/pvforschools |
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