Solar energy for students

Donnybrook Bridgetown Mail
Tuesday 12/12/2006 Page: 10

FOUR South West schools will now get up to two per cent of their power needs from solar energy.

Solar panels have been installed at the Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School and the Dalyellup, Bunbury and Amaroo primary schools. The installation is the first stage of a plan to source more energy from renewable energy sources. The four schools are all participating in the Worsley Energy Challenge which aims to have each school reduce their reliance of fossil fuels by 20 per cent over the next five years.

Worsley Alumina has provided sponsorship to purchase and install the solar panels. Students will be able to monitor the level of impact the panels have on each school's energy use.

Wind turbines will be installed at three of the schools early in the New Year in the next stage of the project. A biodiesel generator will also be installed at the Grammar School.

The schools will aim to achieve their 20 per cent energy reduction target through a combination of renewable energy technology as well as focusing on more efficient energy use habits. Each school is also pursuing other environment-friendly initiatives like recycling and composting.

Worsley Alumina's Health, Safety and Environment Manager Gerry Rayner said the initiative for the Worsley Energy Challenge came from the South West branch of the Australian Association for Environmental Education and has been supported by the four schools, and Edith Cowan and Curtin universities.

"By promoting this throughout local schools we also hope that students will carry the energy efficiency message home to their families and to the general community," Mr Rayner said.

He said Worsley is a member of Greenhouse Plus - a national program that challenges industry to progressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

It is proposed that Edith Cowan University will undertake research about the technological, educational and social aspects of the energy challenge, with the aim of encouraging the program to expand to other schools and organisations.