Spring is still months away, but Sakai Intermediate School is a little greener this month, thanks to a community-funded solar project.

A 30-panel, 5.1 kilowatt array, installed on the school’s roof in late November, began trickling electricity into the building’s power system in January.

Real-time statistics from the array are being fed into a software system and can be viewed by the public online at www.cenergysolutions.org or www.bainbridge.wednet.edu/sakai.

Joe Deets, executive director of Community Energy Solutions, the non-profit spearheading the Solar for Sakai project, said the online display will be a useful tool for engaging and educating the community.

“Now anyone can go on the Website and see what a Bainbridge solar system is producing,” Deets said.

Students can access a wide range of solar data on a console installed in the school’s library.

Funding for the array came from donations and grants. Solar for Sakai has begun a new $50,000 fundraising drive to install an additional 30 panels on the school.

See a full story on the Solar for Sakai project and video of the installation.