Seed Preschool’s Matilda the Bus
Twelve Hills Nature Center
817 Mary Cliff Rd
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The decision to have a school in a bus was born partly out of opportunity and convenience, but quickly also became about conservation and sustainability.Matilda has a portable solar system that keeps everything running off-grid when she is at the nature center for school days. |
Meet Matilda the bus!
Meet Matilda, a school bus retired from the Thrall ISD in Central TX, who serves as a mobile classroom for the Seed Preschool (www.seedpreschool.org/matilda.html). On school days Matilda parks at Twelve Hills Nature Center where the children enjoy outdoor nature exploration and indoor classroom time. Matilda is complete with a simple kitchen and bathroom, climate control and all the trimmings of a proper classroom. In May of 2018, Matilda was outfitted with solar panels donated by Sol-Ark Solar and a grant from the North Texas Master Naturalist Chapter.
Twelve Hills Nature Center is a 5-acre nature preserve with a butterfly garden, reclaimed wildflower prairie, and hiking trail in Oak Cliff. The nature center will be open to the public on tour day and nature activities are planned for children and adults.
Renewable energy features
Solar PV
kW: 1.5 kW
Installation Date: May 2018
Installer: Sol-Ark
Equipment
Sol-Ark 2500W generator
Retail Electric Provider
Matilda the bus
Solar Hot water
Planned for future
Green features
- Passive Solar Design – Matilda likes to park in the sun!
- Low water use landscape: Planning to install teaching garden at Twelve Hills Nature Center
- Lighting: Daylighting (No artificial lighting if the sun is out – just lots of windows)
- Grey water collection from sink
- Composting toilet under consideration (currently using an RV/camping port-a-potty)
- Recycling
- Worm composting
- All art paper obtained at Recycle Revolution
Host Comments
The decision to have a school in a bus was born partly out of opportunity and convenience, but quickly also became about conservation and sustainability. We have everything we need in a small space. Matilda has a portable solar system that keeps everything running off-grid when she is at the nature center for school days. This system is new and still a work in progress as we learn what can be powered and for how long. We have concluded that more insulation is definitely needed for efficiency and more or different air conditioners and heaters would be nice. Currently, we haul water for daily use, but future plans include under-mount water tanks and rainwater catchment. Conversion to electric or alternative fuel are also under consideration. Matilda doesn’t drive far so does not use much diesel fuel currently. We are grateful for the generosity of Sol-Ark Solar who greatly reduced the cost of their equipment, and to the North Texas Master Naturalists for a cash donation to cover the remainder of the cost.
www.seedpreschool.org Facebook and Instagram: @seedpreschool