Citizens for a Livable Cranbrook Society provides grassroots leadership and an inclusive process, with a voice for all community members, to ensure that our community grows and develops in a way that incorporates an environmental ethic, offers a range of housing and transportation choices, encourages a vibrant and cultural life and supports sustainable, meaningful employment and business opportunities.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Eleven B.C. Schools Power up with Solar

We hope those who have the power to assist the power supply in this the sunniest city in BC, start using it soon - homes now must be solar ready but how many of us use it we wonder!  Campbell River (see post http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5780805355096014669&postID=1773127709866281028)
one of BC's wetter locations has been named the province's greatest user of solar power and now again we are not on this list of schools bringinging solar to their schools.
Our post:
http://livablecranbrook.blogspot.com/2011/05/let-sun-shine-in.html
an article by Wayne Stetski originally published in the Townsman, also points out that maybe we could do better in this department.

VICTORIA – How much energy does the sun produce in a day? Students at 11 B.C. schools will soon learn the answer through a grant for $20,000 per school to buy and install new solar panels.

Students will be involved right from the start in bringing solar power to their school. They will help to find the best location and angle for the solar panel to take advantage of the sun’s rays. Students will take daily readings to see how much power is produced by the panel. Through these readings, they will be able to determine greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings.

Students at these 11 schools have an opportunity for hands-on learning about the benefits of this renewable source of energy. Teachers will make solar energy an important part of the daily curriculum. For example, they will use solar energy for cooking classes and making solar-powered cars.

The schools will share what they have learned about solar power with their community and other schools. Through videos, tours, science fairs and more, the schools will help to encourage families across the province to investigate clean, renewable energy solutions in their own homes.

The 11 schools receiving $20,000 in funding are:

o Sir Charles Tupper Secondary school, Vancouver

o Rockridge Secondary school, West Vancouver

o McNair Secondary school, Richmond

o Claremont Secondary school, Saanich

o Shawnigan Lake school, Shawnigan Lake

o G. P. Vanier Secondary school, Courtenay

o Kelowna Waldorf school, Kelowna

o LV Rogers Secondary school, Nelson

o Golden Secondary school, Golden

o Highglen Public Montessori Elementary school, Prince George

o North Peace Secondary school, Fort St. John

· In total, the 11 schools will generate about 29,500 kWh/yr of electricity from solar power, approximately enough energy to power three homes per year.

· The 11 schools will save approximately 712 tonnes per year in greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to taking 140 cars off of B.C. roads.

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