BARAGA -- Baraga Area Schools are being recognized for going green.

The district is one of five finalists chosen in a national competition for their efforts to become more energy efficient and to teach students about the environment.  They began making their building more environmentally friendly in 2008.

Now all of their lights are full-spectrum, allowing the school to downgrade from four bulbs to two, while providing a brighter, more natural light.  There are also heat recovery units installed above each classroom that use old air to help heat new air and save energy.

In 2009, the district was recognized by the EPA as an Energy Star Certified School.  At the end of April, they were chosen as a finalist in the QA Graphics Green School competition.

Baraga hopes everyone in the U.P. will vote for them online.  The contest ends on May 10, and the top vote-getter from each category will win an educational dashboard--an interactive tool used to teach students more about going green.

"It’d be great to win and have one more green resource for the students and staff, but if nothing else, this is getting the idea of a green way of living out there," says Superintendent Norman McKindles, III.

Baraga’s previous upgrades have also qualified the district for a renewable energy grant to install 10 solar panels.

On Tuesday, the superintendent met with the project supervisor to decide on the best location.

"It’s a great idea to introduce the students to renewable energy,” says project supervisor Rick Johnson.  “It's been talked about a lot in Michigan and pushed by the governor, and it's finally starting to happen."

The solar panels will be connected to a monitor inside the school to show students how much energy is actually produced.

The installation is expected to begin in July and should only take a couple of weeks.