American Idols bring star power to Solar 4R Schools event

Recently-eliminated American Idol contestants Anoop (Noop Dogg) Desai and Lil Rounds showed they still had a large following Friday as hundreds of students and teachers welcomed them to Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Los Angeles as part of its Solar 4R Schools celebration.

Anoop Desai and Lil Rounds, eliminated American Idol finalists, center, pose for pictures at Friday's Camino Nuevo solar event.

The two stars mingled with students, signed autographs and test drove model solar cars given to them during a dedication ceremony for the school’s new 1.36-kilowatt solar-electric system.

Camino Nuevo 12th-grader Christopher Carmona speaks to the crowd at the school's solar dedication event.

The system was made possible thanks to a partnership of several companies and organizations. FOX and “American Idol” first partnered with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), E-Village Solar and Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) to green last season’s “American Idol” finale, placing a solar-electric system on the red carpet. On Friday, these same partners brought the power of the sun to Camino Nuevo.

With the system installation, Camino Nuevo Charter Academy joins BEF’s national Solar 4R Schools program, which teaches students and communities nationwide about renewable energy.

BEF donated solar panels and data monitoring for the 1.36-kilowatt solar-electric system as well as educational classroom materials. E-Village Solar donated the inverter and installation.

Anoop Desai, left, signs autographs and checks out a model solar car during the event.

The system, located on the roof of the high school building, will be used to teach students about photovoltaic technology, and will further the school’s mission of educating students in a college preparatory program to be literate, critical thinkers and independent problem-solvers who are agents of social justice with sensitivity toward the world around them.

Solar 4R Schools (S4RS), developed and managed by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), fosters knowledge and excitement about renewable energy by delivering hands-on experience with solar-electric systems to schools and communities throughout the United States. The most comprehensive solar schools program in the country, S4RS provides educational materials and real-time data monitoring, and has installed solar-electric systems at more than 100 schools nationwide. BEF supports this program and other renewable energy and watershed restoration projects with revenues generated by the sale of carbon offsets and through direct partnerships with sustainably focused funding partners. BEF recently launched a new website to help individuals learn more about carbon footprints and renewable energy: www.shrinkyourfoot.org.