Primary schools going green

Esperance Express
Thursday 20/3/2008 Page: 4

Esperance primary schools are going green, with three primary schools in the district recently receiving grants to install solar power systems. Grass Patch, Munglinup and Esperance Primary Schools are all recipients of funding from the Solar Schools Program, which aims to have 350 solar schools across the state by 2010. Munglinup Primary principal Mark Rawlings said that the funding for the solar panels would help the school achieve its aim of becoming completely self-sufficient.

"The Solar Schools Program is about trying to get schools to recognise green and renewable energy," he said. "We are trying to encourage our students to be energy efficient because oil won't be around for ever." The school, which is also participating in Earth Hour, grows its own vegetables, collects rainwater and is currently looking at funding to purchase wind turbines.

Esperance Primary deputy principal Nola Smith said that the push to go green had come from the students themselves, who were concerned about climate change. "The school had an education program on climate change, and the push to be more energy efficient came from the kids. "The students undertook an energy audit, which included basic things that kids can do to reduce energy consumption, and a policy was produced that the school must adhere to." Ms Smith said that the students were in control of the program and that representatives met every week to brainstorm ideas.

According to Grass Patch Principal Jeff Brown, initiatives such as these are important to educate children about energy consumption and raise awareness about energy alternatives. "Human beings are part of one big ecosystem and kids need to learn how we fit into that ecosystem," Mr Brown said. "Through these initiatives we are planting the seed to help the kids recognise that we have an obligation to the people that come after us."