| Written by Carolyn Girard, The Catholic Register,
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Views : 740  |
 St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School won a solar panel in the shape of a cross in a recent York Region competition to promote the education of alternate energy sources. The solar panel, attached to the school’s power grid, contributes a minute amount of power which provides raw data for the students to use in the classroom. (Photo courtesy of St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School)
In the York Catholic District School Board,
18 elementary schools have been monitoring their energy consumption by
classroom, with students rushing to turn off lights, computers and
other appliances when a special warning LED “Save Energy” sign warns
them of over-usage. The initiative is part of the board’s Eco Champion
program launched last year.
“So far these schools have saved 10 per cent of their total consumption
on a yearly basis,” said Norman Vezina, the board’s senior manager of
environmental services. “It’s amazing the impact they’ve had — you walk
into (one of those) schools and you can’t leave a light on because
students are chastising you.”
The board is hoping to introduce something similar to the high schools.
Vezina envisions putting a monitor in the entrance of each school which
would report the school’s consumption numbers, while alternately
providing other news flashes about school activities and upcoming
events.
To encourage awareness in the high schools, the board launched a
contest where staff had to write how they would integrate solar energy
into the curriculum.
The winning school, St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School
in Woodbridge, won a solar panel in the shape of a cross, installed
onto the wall of the school’s front entrance and put into working order
in March.
The solar panel is connected to the school’s grid and contributes
enough energy to power a microwave. However little that may be, the
system has provided a great teaching resource, says the school’s
principal, Rom Villani.
“We are looking at it as a first step of creating a total package of
energy awareness in the school,” Villani said. “Just the recognition
we’ve gotten has already got students talking. But it is also hands-on.
They have raw data to help them realize the impact solar energy can
have.”
Villani explained that students can measure how much energy is being
produced on cloudy days versus sunny days and teachers can use the data
in math questions, scientific projects and discussions about
technology. Having the students measure the data themselves versus
reading about it in a textbook makes the technology, the science and
the calculations that much easier to understand.
Just as Pope Benedict began harnessing solar power for the Vatican, the
school is doing a small part to reduce energy consumption out of
respect for God’s creation.
Villani said students understand quite well that helping the environment ties to their faith.
“They recognize that this is not to be squandered,” Villani said.
While the daily awareness campaign has taken leaps and bounds in York
Region, other schools in the GTA are also showing initiative in making
Earth Hour a daily or weekly event.
Roberta Oswald, Science and Environment Resource for the Toronto Catholic District School Board, said St. Roch’s Catholic School pledged
last year to have an hour a day without lights and appliances for the
entire year. The challenge was extended to other schools, with
Transfiguration Catholic School climbing on board. And Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School has been holding an Earth Hour every week.
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