Allison Walker, Your Home

With the costs of energy going up, an Orange County high school and fire station are looking at solar energy.

As News 13's Allison Walker explains, it's the same kind of technology you can use at home.

If you own a home in Orange County, you foot the energy bill for schools and fire departments.

But a company called "All Solar" has just installed a solar electric system at Olympia High School and that means it will get some of its power for free -- from the sun.

The county has also approved installation of a solar hot water system at Fire Station 37 in Oakland.

"This will help lessen the burden the taxpayers will have to bear when paying the electric bill on these buildings," said Dave Bessette, of Allsolar Service Company.

But don't expect huge savings.

A Progress Energy spokesman told News 13 that putting solar electric systems in schools is more about teaching kids that solar energy can reduce the building's carbon footprint.

Because the entire school isn't depending on the new system, the savings, he said, are "modest." Still, Dave Bessette of All Solar thinks every bit helps. He wants more schools and fire stations to "go solar."

It will take less than two months to install the solar hot water system at Fire Rescue Station 37, but but installing the thing isn't cheap. It will take years to pay it off.

"In six years from now, the citizens of Orange County will not have to come out of their pocket to pay for the use of hot water in that building," Bessette said.

Bessette doesn't know how this will trickle down to residents' tax bill -- yet.

"The utility company is going to be collecting data on what it's actually costing them to heat hot water now. After the system is installed, they'll be collecting data on how much the system is costing them," Besette said.

All Solar said solar electric systems have been installed at these Central Florida schools:

• Waterford Elementary
• Lake Sybellia Elementary
• Tuscawilla Montessori
• Olympia High School

Many homes use solar energy to heat pools but very few use solar energy to provide 100 percent of the energy.  In fact, a representative of Progress Energy said, of its 1.7 million customers, fewer than 20 homes depend 100 percent on solar energy.

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