By Michael Rainger
FauquierNow.com Contributor

In the 1970s, Fauquier High School was just one of four in the nation enjoying solar power!

Michael Rainger

We believe that the panels were located on a slope near the gym. If you are an FHS graduate, parent or teacher with direct personal knowledge, please, send details to the e-mail address at the end of this article. Photos will be credited to the owner/photographer.

Original Technical Specifications: The Fauquier High School Solar Heating System utilizes a solar collector array of 2415 square feet active area. The collectors are mounted in a single plane which is tilted at a 53/sup 0/ angle from the horizontal. The latitude of Warrenton, Virginia is 38.6/sup 0/. Thermal storage is provided by water stored in two concrete tanks, each of 5,500-gallon capacity. The tanks are insulated with 4 inches of polyurethane and have a temperature loss of 1/sup 0/F per day at a temperature of 140/sup 0/F. Piping to the tanks is arranged so they can be used separately for maximum efficiency. A drain-down mode is used to provide freeze protection for the collectors. No antifreeze is used in the system.

There are no heat exchangers in the system except for the classrooms where two water-air convectors are used for space heating. The convectors are equipped with two-speed fans and are sized to provide the heating requirements of the classrooms with 100/sup 0/F water storage temperatures. Back-up heating is provided with the electric resistance heaters originally installed in the classrooms. One classroom has, in addition, an oil heater. The operation, performance, maintenance, and modifications to the system over the 1974-75 and 1975-76 heating seasons are reported in detail.

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The two tanks may still be in the ground in a unique design with backup capabilities for heating. Panels may have been used as target practice, hence the short life span (roof installations are now more common). Back in the day,

Warrenton had renewable energy companies before anyone else in the Mid-Atlantic region.

It is truly fitting that FHS is going green again with geothermal, passive solar, and modern efficient lighting systems in the new four-story building.  Students, parents and teachers will all benefit from viewing and understanding renewable energies in action as we transform to a more sustainable re-energized economy.

It is disappointing that the roof water retention project in an area known for drought was dropped and that solar will not be used to power the geothermal or heat pumps which would further reduce the annual energy cost (FHS fiscal 2009-11 below). An energy trend going in the right direction. (See prior article on school energy use and conservation.)

FHS energy costs:
• $464,444 in fiscal 2009
• $386,939 in 2010.
• $361,430 in 2011.

Perhaps the newly elected board of supervisors and school board could reconsider these two items in the new year? It is NOT too late for FHS renovation project change orders funded by future electric utility savings of about 50 percent a year!

Original research by Lance Albaugh and opinion by Michael Rainger (info@intragroups.com) with an online storyboard about the FHS solar panels at www.energized-fauquier.com.

Michael Rainger has been resident of Fauquier County since 1995. His prior work experience included international expertise in information technology, Total Quality Management, benchmarking and continuous process improvement. He has introduced energy conservation systems to Fauquier County Public Schools, County government and Vint Hill during the past three years. In 2008, with a third child at C. Hunter Ritchie Elementary School and two older daughters who had already graduated from Ritchie, Marshall Middle and Fauquier High School, Rainger wanted to make an “energized” difference. As a taxpayer he wanted to avoid reduced educational services because of declining revenues and increasing expenses within the public school system.