PARRY SOUND - St. Peter’s Catholic School is going green.
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has received Ministry of Education funding, as part of the ministry’s Green School Pilot program, to install wind turbines at five schools.
As well as our local school, turbines will be installed in Catholic schools in Collingwood, Honey Harbour, Huntsville, and Barrie. Most of the schools are in close proximity to Georgian Bay to take advantage of the bounty of wind coming off the bay.
The Green Schools Pilot project is a joint venture by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Research and Innovation. There is $20-million available for innovative school projects. The local catholic board submitted three proposals and the turbine project was given the thumbs up.
“I think it’s great,” said St. Peter’s principal Dave McDougall. “We’re building two new classrooms and apparently the turbine will power three (classrooms) so we won’t have to worry about electricity. I think it’s a step forward in making schools eco-friendly.”
The board will receive $309,000 to fund the turbines at the five schools. The schools were chosen based on whether they were already involved in the board’s Ecoschools programs and initiatives, and on the amount of wind they have access to, said Diane Legg, director of communications and public affairs for the board.
“We looked at where we might reap the most benefits,” she said.
The turbines are expected to generate enough electricity to power three or four classrooms.
“They aren’t like the big things people see on wind farms,” said Legg. “They weigh about 400 kilograms and stand seven metres off the ground.”
St. Mary’s principal Paul Follis is pleased his Huntsville school has been included in the wind power initiative.
“We are excited and very interested in the educational and the eco advantages that this brings to St. Mary’s school,” he said. “Our wind turbine is a first for schools in Muskoka and we expect other schools will want to join in these projects in the future. Our children and our community will see energy savings and reduced use of fuels and electricity.”
Follis also sees the school as a great location to spread the word about alternative energy options.
“Being a visible school on Highway 11 we hope it will generate interest,” he said. “It will be in a prominent place where it will be recognized by people as something different and interesting.”
The principal also sees the turbine as doing more than reducing the school’s carbon footprint; he sees it as an opportunity for eco-education.
“We will be looking to take advantage of the data it provides to our students so they can learn about this technology,” said Follis. “Hopefully it will inspire some of our students to see this as a pathway for them to pursue in the future, in eco industry, green industry and energy conservation.”
- with files from Stephannie Johnson