New York City uses on average 11,000 megawatts of electricity every day. One megawatt is enough to power 1,000 homes – with over 8 million people and an electric subway system that runs 24 hours a day, it’s easy to see why New Yorkers use so much electricity. The problem is that the majority of electricity produced in New York City comes from power plants that burn fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels emits green house gases, which contribute to climate change and pollute the air we breathe. 

Installing solar panels on the Bushwick Campus Farm’s Eco Shed will create an off-grid source of electricity to provide clean energy for the school’s greenhouse, vertical farm and hydroponic systems. Generating our own electricity for our energy needs on site means we won’t need to use electricity generated from fossil fuel burning power plants, bringing us one step closer to creating a sustainable outdoor classroom that not only grows its own food but will produce its own energy.