Schools

SolarBC's Solar For Schools Project Winners

Clarence Fulton Secondary School

SolarBC officially congratulates the BC schools, from Invermere to 150 Mile House, which have successfully met and passed the criteria to receive funding for installation of solar hot water systems on the schools. The applications were reviewed by a committee comprised of staff from the Ministry of Education and SolarBC. The following schools have received funding for the program:

David Thompson Secondary School (Invermere), Nakusp Secondary School, J.L. Crowe Secondary School (Trail), 150 Mile Elementary School, 108 Mile Elementary School, Abbotsford Middle School, Clayburn Middle School (Abbotsford), Langley Fine Arts Secondary School, HD Stafford Middle School (Langley), Fraser Heights Secondary School (Surrey), Johnston Heights Secondary School (Surrey), Elgin Park Secondary School (Surrey), Samuel Brighouse Elementary School (Richmond), Windermere Secondary School (Vancouver), David Thompson Secondary School (Vancouver), Lord Byng Secondary School (Vancouver), Burnaby South Secondary School, Whistler Secondary School, Reynolds Secondary School (Saanich), Victoria Secondary School, Edward Milne Secondary School (Sooke), Vanier Secondary School (Courtney), and Hope Secondary School.

"These schools shared a wide range of ideas on how to spread solar knowledge through their community and the province. Many schools’ applications spoke about the importance of engaging peers, younger students, and the community in initiatives that are sustainable, looking to break the myth in their school that ‘It’s difficult to use renewable energy technology,’" said Nitya Harris, Executive Director of SolarBC. "Students know that the renewable energy sector is not only interesting and resource efficient, but also growing extremely quickly and full of employment opportunities."

The Solar for Schools project will help schools in their quest to become carbon neutral with respect of their operations by 2010. The installation of solar hot water systems on schools will demonstrate the leadership of the school in saving energy and reducing GHG emissions and by encouraging students and their families to investigate renewable energy solutions in their own homes.

There may be a second call for schools in the fall of 2009 if funds are available for this project.

Funding Process for Schools that have been preapproved for SolarBC funding:

1. Obtain design and cost estimate.
2. Submit a signed ecoEnergy for Renewable Heat Application Form found at: www.eacoaction.gc.ca
3. Submit a signed BCSEA Consent and Release Form
4. Receive Contribution Agreement from NRCan
5. Receive funding confirmation from SolarBC
6. Install system (System installation CANNOT start prior to receiving NRCan Contribution Agreement)
7. Provide completion documents to NRCan
8. Receive rebate from NRCAn
9. Receive rebate from SolarBC