Assistance from SFU
A number of different organizations on campus provide educational resources. Check out a few of them below.
Renewable Energy Center - The Center gives presentations throughout Pennsylvania. We frequently explain what wind energy is, how a turbine works, costs, and environmental and aesthetics aspects, but we will tailor the talk to your class needs. Typically we give these presentations to science and environmental classes, but we can structure them for math, history, economics, and political science classes. Request a presentation...
Science Outreach Center - SOC's mission is to develop relevant, effective, and systemic efforts to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the community; increase the number of students pursuing an education in STEM fields; and support K-12 schools and their students. SOC delivers inquiry-based and project-based, math and science professional development during a teacher Summer Science Institute. The program, offered through the U.S. Department of Education, annually serves 76 teachers in 15 school districts in the region. At the state level, the SOC is a leader in Pennsylvania's STEM Initiative, a statewide partnership begun in 2007. The University's SOC is the lead organization for the Central Pennsylvania's STEM Network. SOC hosts several outreach days on campus including Science Day which draws about 450 students and 35 teachers. Learn more...
Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids (R.O.C.K.) - R.O.C.K. is a volunteer organization that provides local schools and youth organizations with the opportunity to experience chemistry in real life situations. The program provides free, hands-on science activities to K-12 schools in Cambria, Blair, Somerset, Bedford, and Clearfield counties. Although it began with chemistry, ROCK has expanded to cover many science areas, including lessons on renewable energy. Initiated by Dr. Edward P. Zovinka with six events in 1995, the program has averaged over 88 events each year since 2004, reaching on average over 2,000 students annually. Learn more...
Click here to learn about SFU's initiatives to be green Educational Resources Online 
Energy resources: Department of Energy for Students and Kids
EIA: Energy Kids - For Teachers
Department of Energy: Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Education
NREL: Student Resources on Renewable Energy
NREL: Education Programs
PA Association of Environmental Educators: Home
Looking to go green at your school?
Check out the Department of Energy's EnergySmart Schools site for information on making your school greener. Free Online Training - Introduction to LEED for Schools Presented by: U.S. Green Building Council
This course helps define the benefits of green schools especially to the unity, student and teacher productivity and health. Also addressed are funding issues such as sources, bonds & tax issues, and making the case to decision makers. This free online training seminar is available at the following website: Greenbuild365 The Pathways to Green Schools is a website designed to provide Pennsylvania school districts with information about green opportunities.
 Check out some of these Pennsylvania schools that have implemented green projects:
- Bald Eagle Area School District: geothermal wells and solar panel system to power heat/electricity
- Hollidaysburg Area School District: geothermal wells expected to save 2 million kwh
- Clearview Elementary School, Hanover, LEED Certified [pdf]
- Londonderry School, Harrisburg, green building
Interested in Wind?
The Renewable Energy Center runs Pennsylvania’s anemometer loan program. This program allows you to learn if your site has commercial wind potential at no upfront risk to you. You reimburse us for the cost of the assessment if and only if you install a commercial scale turbine.
The Community Wind Project is for community and business leaders with a serious interest in working on behalf of their business, farm, school, or municipality for a prosperous and healthy future. Successful applicants will have a 50-meter meteorological tower installed at their site for a 12-month feasibility study. In addition, the Wind for Schools Program will work with selected schools to install small turbines. Wondering if you have good wind resources? Check out our wind maps to see what type of resource you may have at your site. Please contact the REC for more information.
Financing your Project
DSIRE: Check out this site to learn about incentives and policies for renewable and efficiency in Pennsylvania and other states. A Review of Feasible Financing Structures for Community Wind Projects in Pennsylvania [pdf]
How a project will be financed, owned, and operated can be just as critical to success as wind resource. This study examines financing and ownership structures that can be used for community wind projects in Pennsylvania and discusses the financial model used by the Center to assess the economics of various community wind ownership structures.
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