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SUCCESSFUL STUDENT PROJECT PROVIDES
MORE GREEN POWER, LOWER ENERGY COSTS
FOR ANAHEIM SCHOOLS
ANAHEIM, CA (September 13, 2005) - With gasoline prices continuing to spiral, students at Anaheim Transportation Academy recently completed a unique research and development project that saves energy, protects the environment and reduces operating expenses at Anaheim schools. Under a contract with the Anaheim Union High School District, Anaheim Public Utilities provided solar energy equipment and the services of a project manager for what students named the “Los Matadores del Sol” project.
The students wanted to see if solar energy could reduce the amount of electricity needed from the utility power grid to operate golf carts used for transportation by school staff on Anaheim campuses. After installing 11 SunCaddy™ 140-watt, 75-volt solar panels on the golf carts at Loara, Katella, Cypress and Anaheim High Schools, and also at Brookhurst and Dale Junior High Schools, they connected the solar panels to the golf cart batteries.
Each day, students gathered data regarding mileage, net amps used and net amps charged. They also conducted a field test at Anaheim High School to verify the solar energy panel helped charge the golf cart batteries during daily use. Comparing data taken from golf carts with the solar panels to golf carts without them, and taking into consideration such variables as weather and different drivers, the students determined the average energy savings to be 25.9 percent. The students submitted a comprehensive report of their findings to Anaheim Public Utilities.
“This has been a very rewarding project,” said Dina Predisik, resources program specialist for Anaheim Public Utilities. “The students had a practical, hands-on experience with solar energy. I think it has made them more aware of the benefits of this renewable energy source and the importance of exploring potential future applications."
For more information and to see photos of the project, please visit Anaheim Public Utilities Renewable Energy Video Tour.
### ABOUT ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility.
ABOUT ANAHEIM The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nations premier municipalities and is Californias 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 2,100 City employees. The municipal corporations annual budget is $1.3 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as CKE Restaurants, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim Arsenal, and the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning USA Men's Volleyball team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.
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