It is not everyday high school students become enthused about a guided tour of the roof, but at Delta Secondary, students recently had ample reason to get excited about a trip to the top of their school.
Delta school district energy manager Jim White visited the school to show the environment club the solar panels installed on the roof. These panels were installed last year to provide a solar hot water heating system for the school.
Although contributing just a small percentage to the overall hot water system, the educational benefits of having students monitor the system are invaluable. The solar hot water system can be monitored online and is incorporated into classroom work. Students learn about clean, solar energy as a way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The solar panel initiative is of great interest to the Delta Secondary environment club, which has a mandate of finding and implementing sustainable initiatives in the Ladner high school. The group is taking part in B.C. Hydro's Energy Ambassadors program, which empowers students to take action with regards to energy conservation.
A partnership between secondary school teams, school districts and B.C. Hydro, the Energy Ambassadors program focuses on awareness, action and leadership. Student teams identify areas where conservation and sustainable actions could be implemented, and then take action to do so in their school as well as in surrounding elementary schools.
Last year, all of Delta's seven high schools took part. Delta, Seaquam and Burnsview all installed solar panels thanks to grants from Solar B.C., Natural Resources Canada and Fortis B.C.
Above and beyond the solar panels, Delta and Seaquam really stood out in their conservation efforts. Delta, among other initiatives, received a $6,000 grant from the Delta school district to install low energy lights in the school foyer and outdoor areas, initiated a soft plastic recycling program and created a centennial garden to teach students about gardening and the importance of sustainable food growth.
Seaquam, just to name a few projects, was involved with preserving local streams, reducing paper in classrooms, organizing lights-out days and presenting environmental initiatives to elementary schools.
Due to their efforts, both Delta and Seaquam were recently awarded a $1,000 grant from B.C. Hydro to help with their future endeavors. Seaquam will be installing a second water bottle refilling station at their school and Delta is considering doing the same.
Each secondary school had a water bottle refilling station installed at the beginning of this school year. It is estimated this initiative is preventing 1,000 to 2,000 water bottles each month from entering the landfill.
Four of Delta's high schools are taking part in the Energy Ambassadors program again this year. Delta Secondary students recently made a presentation regarding conservation efforts to Ladner Elementary. The presentation was interactive with energy conservation trivia and tips as well as relay games for the entire school.
