School is a producer of power

Ontario Green School Solar Initiative delivers solar panels, renewable energy, sustainability education, and greenhouse gas reduction across CSCNO schools, tracking 14,000 kWh output and cost savings in Sault Ste. Marie.

Notre-Dame-des-Écoles school in Sault Ste. Marie produced its first kilowatt-hour kWh of power recently, thus joining the ranks of the first schools in Canada to achieve this exploit.

With solar panels installed on its roof, the school has the capacity to produce some 14,000 kWh of electricity in the coming year, power that is valued at as much as $11,200.

This project is part of the Ontario Ministries of Education and Research and Innovation pilot green school initiative that promotes the use of innovative ecological technology.

Selected for this provincial environmental project, Notre-Dame-des-Écoles and the Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario CSCNO are making it possible for the government to test various innovative ecological technologies like ice storage systems and products.

In addition, the CSCNO supports government efforts to gauge school efficaciency in solar energy production in relation to geographical location.

Notre-Dame-des-Écoles, which in September 2011 is to become part of the new École Notre-Dame-du-Sault school that will merge the community’s three current French Catholic schools, thus becomes an energy-efficient learning centre.

Students and staff will be able to follow the evolution of their school’s energy production on the web.

While learning about the benefits of this technology of the future, from solar generation to energy-efficient streetlights, and how it works, they will become aware of their own contributions to reducing their ecological footprint.

“Bringing a leading edge green project into our French Catholic schools in Sault Ste. Marie is very well received by parents,” declared Sault Ste. Marie CSCNO school trustee Mrs. Suzanne Salituri. “The addition of a green element to Notre-Dame-des-Écoles will enable our new school to access modern infrastructure across our facilities. Our teaching staff will be well-equipped to support students’ desires to take part in ecological projects and reduce greenhouse gas production.”

“This project is part of CSCNO initiatives in Sault Ste. Marie and elsewhere in our district aimed at providing the French Catholic community with modern learning spaces that are adapted to their needs, aligning with Northern Ontario sustainability goals for the region,” explained CSCNO Director of Education Mrs. Lyse-Anne Papineau. “Even as it reduces our ecological footprint, this project raises the level of the school’s educational environment and will encourage our students to become responsible ecological citizens in the community.”

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic educational program that is widely recognized for its excellence.

The CSCNO provides a quality academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with more than 7,300 students in 28 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

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