{"id":18,"date":"2024-06-17T03:23:06","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T03:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solarisatx.org\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2025-10-01T22:57:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T03:57:24","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/solarisatx.org\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Innovative <\/mark>Solar<\/mark>,<\/mark> <\/mark>Infinite Possibilities<\/mark><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Aiming to achieve widespread solar usage across
school districts within the Austin Metropolitan Area<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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PODCAST<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
THE TEAM<\/strong><\/mark><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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May 16, 2024<\/div>

Introductory Meeting<\/h4>

We held a meeting with the LTISD staff members that are in charge of facilities and construction for this district.<\/p>

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May 16, 2024<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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May 28, 2024<\/div>

Solaris Meeting – South Congress<\/h4>

The Solaris team gathered at Austin Central Library to discuss and plan the future of the student organization.<\/p>

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May 28, 2024<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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August 22, 2024<\/div>

Solar Action Plan Presentation<\/h4>

We held another meeting with the LTISD staff members to further discuss the details of our solar initiative.<\/p>

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August 22, 2024<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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October 1, 2024<\/div>

Solar Design Integration Meeting<\/h4>

Pfluger Architects and Native Solar representatives met with us to discuss the architectural design of the elementary school and the integration of solar panels within the design.<\/p>

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October 1, 2024<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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December 17, 2024<\/div>

Educational Outreach Framework<\/h4>

Met with LTISD Facilities & Construction Department, Elementary School Curriculum & Instruction Director, and the Superintendent to explore opportunities for solar education to students.<\/p>

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December 17, 2024<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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January 30, 2025<\/div>

STEM Curriculum Planning<\/h4>

We discussed outreach plans with the LTISD STEM Director of K-12, evaluating methods to tie activities and lessons to the student curriculum. <\/p>

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January 30, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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February 27, 2025<\/div>

Solar Tour<\/h4>

Visited Homestead Oaks Apartments in South Austin to engage with sustainability professionals, learning critical information regarding solar panels and how they function.<\/p>

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February 27, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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May 13, 2025<\/div>

Serene Hills Elementary<\/h4>

Made a visit to Serene Hills Elementary, teaching around 110 students about solar energy and creating solar oven pizza boxes as an interactive activity.<\/p>

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May 13, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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August 1, 2025<\/div>

Started the Solaris Project<\/h4>

Created the idea for the Solaris Project, a podcast that interviews leading professionals in the solar industry to gain eye-opening knowledge surrounding sustainability and its future developments.<\/p>

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August 1, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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August 26, 2025<\/div>

The Solaris Project EP 1: Stan Pipkin<\/h4>

We recorded the first episode of our newly created podcast, interviewing Stan Pipkin (CEO of Lighthouse Solar), learning about solar technology in relation to the field of architecture.<\/p>

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August 26, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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September 4, 2025<\/div>

The Solaris Project EP 2: Eileen McGinnis <\/h4>

We recorded the second episode of our podcast, interviewing Eileen McGinnis (Director of the Parents\u2019 Climate Community), understanding community parental involvement in climate activism.<\/p>

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September 4, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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September 9, 2025<\/div>

The Solaris Project EP 3: Amy Atchley<\/h4>

We recorded the third episode of our podcast, interviewing Amy Atchley (EV Director at Austin Energy), exploring the potential growth in electric transportation.<\/p>

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September 9, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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September 16, 2025<\/div>

The Solaris Project EP 4: Emma Pabst<\/h4>

We recorded the fourth episode of our podcast, interviewing Emma Pabst (Director at Texas Sierra Club & Solar Austin), learning how to overcome the inequities that challenge solar integration communities.<\/p>

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September 16, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n\n\n\n
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September 21, 2025<\/div>

Austin’s Sun Day<\/h4>

The Solaris ATX team ran a booth at Austin’s Sun Day event, taking place at the capitol, as the only high school organization present to display our passion and care for solar energy. Our executive director, Max Davila, spoke at the event. <\/p>

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September 21, 2025<\/div><\/article>\n
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Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Energy<\/strong><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWhy is Solar Power Useful?<\/span><\/div>

Solar power can be utilized as a cleaner, renewable energy source to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While upfront costs of installing solar panels seem high, solar is a great source of longer term saving by reduction of energy bills. As solar advances, becoming more effective and sustainable, organizations like us aim to make solar energy more accessible and affordable.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWhen Does Solar Power Work Best?<\/span><\/div>

Solar power is most effective when the sun is shining directly on the panels, which occurs on sunny days with minimal clouds. During midday, when the sun peaks, and in regions close to the equator, solar panels run at their optimal performance. More solar energy is harnessed during summer because of long daylight hours. Though, solar panels still perform well under other conditions, but at a lower capacity.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tWhy is Solar Power Not Widely Used?<\/span><\/div>

Solar power is often not used due to the high upfront cost of installation, which is why Solaris ATX works to make solar power more affordable for educational institutions. Solar panels also take a significant amount of space and often results in a considerable change in infrastructure. Although solar power is a powerful tool, oftentimes the challenges to install it deter many individuals and groups of people.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tHow is Solar Power Sustainable?<\/span><\/div>

Unlike non-renewable energy sources such as fossil fuels, harnessing solar energy does not deplete natural resources or contribute to environmental damage. Solar power generates a minimum amount of pollution, with no harmful emissions or waste within the energy production process.<\/p><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\tHow Does Solar Power Work?<\/span><\/div>

Solar power converts sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic (PV) cells. These cells are typically made of semiconductor materials like silicon, which absorb photons from sunlight. When sunlight hits the PV cells, it creates an electric current. This current is \\directed through an inverter, which converts the direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC).<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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