Solar 4R Schools Named Best Green Power Education Outreach Program

September 15, 2009, Portland, OR — The Solar 4R Schools program won a Green Power Leadership Award today as the nation’s Best Green Power Education Outreach Program.

The awards program is jointly sponsored by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Energy (DOE) and the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS). Award winners were announced during the Renewable Energy Markets Conference being held in Atlanta, GA this week.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) launched the Solar 4R Schools program in 2002 after recognizing that youth education would be a key factor in transforming the nation's relationship to energy. The Solar 4R Schools program is designed to educate children, teachers and parents on the benefits of solar energy. Free to schools, the Solar 4R Schools program provides selected schools with solar panel installation and demonstrations and hands-on learning tools such as kits to build small solar cars, wind turbines, solar ovens and monitoring devices. Each solar installation is connected to a data collection system which feeds into an online network. This network enables students and teachers to track and monitor energy output of their solar panels in real time and compare their school's energy generation to that of schools across the country. The program has provided renewable energy generation and education to 40,000 students in more than 100 schools representing 15 states and Washington DC. More information about BEF's Solar 4R Schools Program can be found at the program’s new web site at http://www.solar4rschools.org.

BEF also was recognized as the Best Green Power Supplier of the Year at the Renewable Energy Markets Conference.

About the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF)
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit that is creating a more sustainable future by investing now in clean energy and fresh water. When customers purchase BEF's independently certified carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates, they support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the development of new renewable energy facilities. Additionally, their purchase supports long-term watershed restoration and renewable energy education for students and communities nationwide because BEF reinvests its net revenue to fund its Model Watershed and Solar 4R Schools programs. Since its inception in Portland, Ore. in 1998, BEF has been a pioneer in helping people and companies become better stewards of the environment. For more information, see http://www.b-e-f.org/

<!--EndFragment-->