Jun 14 2010
A solar-energy initiative which will see the installation of solar panels on the tops of the roofs of 23 chosen schools will help the Grand Erie District School Board (GEDSB) students perceive the potential benefits of green conservation and energy. At the Pauline Johnson Collegiate and Vocational School located in Brantford, a ceremony was conducted for launching this renewable-energy program.
The longtime energy partner of the school board Ameresco Canada Inc was given the responsibility to collaborate with school boards to assist them decrease their carbon footprint by means of the Ontario Power Authority's Feed-in Tariff (OPA FIT) program. It is expected that the chosen schools are likely to receive 3.3 MW in solar-energy producing capacity, sufficient to power around 385 homes per year.
For a long time, the Grand Erie District School Board has been well known for its conservation practices and environmental education. The board plays a crucial role in decreasing water waste and energy, in addition to composting and recycling in the community and in the classroom by means of its Green Policy. The board is one of Canada’s largest boards to retrofit solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on its rooftops.
Ameresco Canada will be in charge of designing, building, owning, maintaining, and monitoring the PV installations completed in the chosen schools, whereas the school district will produce ongoing revenue depending on installed MW.
These installations help thrust the school districts to the top position in environmental stewardship, offering leadership in the community as well as helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students will benefit from witnessing the ‘live solar laboratory’ on their schools’ rooftops. Thanks to a carbon calculator, students can track the energy savings and solar-generating power of their schools.
Source: http://granderie.ca/