Things have gotten a lot sunnier at the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Aspen Hill.

The private Orthodox Jewish day school started the installation of more than 800 solar photovoltaic panels on its rooftop last week, and the project should be completed by mid-September, said Jennifer Zukerman, the school’s development director.

The solar panels will not only provide green energy for the building, but also will give students a unique opportunity to soak up scientific knowledge, she said.

The initial cost of the system will be paid for by a $50,000 Maryland Energy Administration Commercial Clean Energy Grant. The school also has entered into a 20-year agreement with Washington Gas Energy Services to purchase the power generated by the system, which will cost 25 percent less than regular electricity, Zukerman said.

“I’m thrilled that we were able to help the Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy make this smart investment in clean, renewable energy,” Malcolm Woolf, director of the Maryland Energy Administration, said in a statement. “With this smart investment, [the school] is helping to drive Maryland’s innovation economy and bringing us closer to our goal of generating 20 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2022.”

The system’s emissions-free energy will handle about 17 percent of the school’s annual demand for electricity. The school gets another 10 percent of its energy from wind, Zukerman said.

“This project helps the academy meet one of its strategic goals of financial sustainability as well as our core value of responsibility for ourselves and the world,’’ she said.

Students will monitor the real-time output from the solar PV panels through a display, and data from the system will be incorporated into the science curriculum.

“The solar PV system will help us to teach and inspire students as they grow as leaders committed to a more sustainable future,” said Joshua Levisohn, headmaster of the academy.

The 184-kilowatt solar system will produce approximately 235,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year. This is the equivalent of eliminating approximately 165 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year — the same as burning 17,000 fewer gallons of gasoline or planting nearly 4,000 tree seedlings that grow for 10 years, according to a statement. The system is being installed by Standard Solar Inc., and it will be owned and operated by Washington Gas Energy Services Inc.

Raptor-watching

The annual raptor migration reaches its peak in the fall. That’s why Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville will take a group of 14- to 17-year-olds to the Appalachians to spot hawks and eagles as they head to their wintering grounds.

Wear comfortable shoes because the day includes a 5-mile hike along the trail through Maryland. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday and costs $35. Bring a bag lunch and water. The fee includes transportation costs.

For information, call 301-258-4030.

Uncork in Rockville

Enjoy some of the best wines from around the state at Uncorked, Rockville’s wine and music festival.

For $15, those older than 21 can sample bottled beverages from Terrapin Station Winery, Knob Hill Winery and more. The event runs from noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in Rockville Town Square. Attendees can listen to bands and check out free cooking demonstrations. For information, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/events/uncorked.

Show support for the Rams

Support a local football team. Rockville High School will host a fundraiser for the Rams Football Club 2011 season. Join the football team, cheerleaders, marching band, pipe band and pom squad for a silent auction from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road.

Auction items include sporting events tickets, summer pool memberships, driving lessons, vacation rentals and more. The free event is open to all. For information, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/rockvillehs.

Learn to save money

Learn how to keep more money in your pocket and manage your finances at a basic money management class in Rockville.

The course, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 27, at 30 Courthouse Square, will teach attendees how to eliminate or reduce expenses, prioritize bills and to budget, among other techniques. The class is free and open to all.

For information, call 410-528-8006, or visit www.mdcashacademy.org.

Want to work for the feds?

Learn how to become a government contractor at the Rockville’s Women’s Business Center event “Is Government Contracting for You?” The seminar, which runs from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 23, at 52 Monroe St., will teach attendees the federal government contracting process. Find out what you need to sell to the government. The event costs $5.

For information, visit www.rockvillewbc.org.

Meet and greet

Looking to meet new people? Stop by the networking event from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Clyde’s Tower Oaks Lodge, at 2 Preserve Parkway in Rockville. Enjoy a cash bar and free hors d’oeuvres while making friends and building relationships. Register online at www.3rdtuesdays.com/rockville-md. Don’t forget to bring business cards to the free event.

Back, Cujo, back!

Is your pet up to date on its shots? The Montgomery County Police Department’s animal division will sponsor free rabies vaccinations for county cats and dogs at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Rockville.

The clinic is held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at 14645 Rothgeb Drive. Residents of Rockville and Gaithersburg will need to purchase a pet license if they haven’t done so. Maryland law requires that all cats, dogs, and ferrets over the age of 4 months must be vaccinated for rabies. Vaccinations for ferrets will cost $4.

For information, call 240-773-5925.