The Lawrenceville School is a 205-year old institution that has always been on the cutting edge. The school prides itself on its willingness to explore and adopt new ways of teaching and its commitment to tradition.
So it should come as no surprise that the school is almost entirely powered by solar energy. Lawrenceville has made a commitment to the environment so deep that the school is using a flock of sheep to maintain the grounds around its vast solar panel array.
The Solar Farm, part of the School’s Green Campus Initiative, a holistic approach to campus sustainability, has been a living laboratory for Lawrenceville students since it went online in April 2012.
The farm consists of 24,934 solar panels and is operated by Somerset-based KDC Solar. One of the highest costs associated with running a 30-acre open space is landscaping around the panels. As a way to cut costs, and operate a greener facility, 100 grazing Katahdin sheep from nearby Cherry Grove Farm are enlisted between March and October for an all-you-can eat buffet. The company has also sent sheep to graze on a second site in Vineland.
The experiment has been a huge success, according to the school. The fed sheep have been roaming safely around the fenced acres of solar panels since March. Flowering plants closest to the fence are generally ignored by the sheep, creating a perfect habitat for residents of the dozen bee hives (also located on the Solar Farm grounds), which produce honey for the School. The panels are working at peak efficiency, and Lawrenceville is getting the electricity it needs to power its campus for regular classes as well as the many summer programs it hosts.