Upland High School spotlights solar
UPLAND - Although the sun couldn't be seen much Tuesday, its power was still strong enough to demonstrate the use of solar power to Upland High School students.
Tuesday's solar display was part of Earth Week at the school.
"Our hope is to try to get students to become a little bit more conscious and environmentally sensitive," said Dave Ficke, Upland High science teacher and organizer of the event. "By providing these events, I think that if a few start taking it to heart we win."
Hybrid vehicles will be on display in the quad on Friday to show students and visiting parents the kind of fuel-efficient cars that are available.
Tuesday's solar display was part of Earth Week at the school.
"Our hope is to try to get students to become a little bit more conscious and environmentally sensitive," said Dave Ficke, Upland High science teacher and organizer of the event. "By providing these events, I think that if a few start taking it to heart we win."
Hybrid vehicles will be on display in the quad on Friday to show students and visiting parents the kind of fuel-efficient cars that are available.
Ficke said the green movement over the last couple of years has gotten more students interested in some of the science and biology classes.
"There's more interested in our environmental science class and in the field biology class," Ficke said. "More kids, not hundreds more, but more kids. That's good that that's happening."
Physics student Leslie McQuesten, 16, was driving around the quad in a vehicle that can be powered by battery as well as through solar panels.
"I started physics as a sophomore because it's really, really interesting," Leslie said. "This was my project during earth science. This is what I was working on."
Southern California Edison pulled a mobile display onto the campus to show students ways to save energy.
Free popcorn, popped with power from a solar panel, was given to students.
Robbie Rugg, an employee with RCC Solar in Upland, had a table of solar-powered toys set up in the quad.
Rugg would hold his hand over the solar panel on the toys to block the sun and stop the toy's movement.
"Just showing them that the sun really can generate power and the toys are the easiest way to show it," Rugg said. "Especially these, where you can shade it and it will stop."
Rugg has noticed a growing number of students becoming interested in the technology.
"I noticed over the past couple of years, when we worked the L.A. County Fair, it's the elementary school students who pull their parents over to the booth," Rugg said. "It's a good trend to see."
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