How much energy does the sun produce in a day? Students at 11 B.C. schools will soon learn the answer through a grant for $20,000 per school to buy and install new solar panels.

Students will be involved right from the start in bringing solar power to their school. They will help to find the best location and angle for the solar panel to take advantage of the sun's rays. Students will take daily readings to see how much power is produced by the panel. Through these readings, they will be able to determine greenhouse gas emissions and energy savings.

Students at these 11 schools have an opportunity for hands-on learning about the benefits of this renewable source of energy. Teachers will make solar energy an important part of the daily curriculum. For example, they will use solar energy for cooking classes and making solar-powered cars.

The schools will share what they have learned about solar power with their community and other schools. Through videos, tours, science fairs and more, the schools will help to encourage families across the province to investigate clean, renewable energy solutions in their own homes.

Facts:

The 11 schools receiving $20,000 in funding are:

o Sir Charles Tupper Secondary school, Vancouver

o Rockridge Secondary school, West Vancouver

o McNair Secondary school, Richmond

o Claremont Secondary school, Saanich

o Shawnigan Lake school, Shawnigan Lake

o G. P. Vanier Secondary school, Courtenay

o Kelowna Waldorf school, Kelowna

o LV Rogers Secondary school, Nelson

o Golden Secondary school, Golden

o Highglen Public Montessori Elementary school, Prince George

o North Peace Secondary school, Fort St. John

* In total, the 11 schools will generate about 29,500 kWh/yr of electricity from solar power, approximately enough energy to power three homes per year.

* The 11 schools will save approximately 712 tonnes per year in greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to taking 140 cars off of B.C. roads.

* B.C. now has a total of 58 solar schools. They include 45 schools that have solar hot water and four schools that already have solar power through SolarBC grants.

* 28 municipalities across B.C. have adopted solar-ready regulations. This means that all new single family homes in the municipality are built ready for solar installation.

* 39 municipal buildings, 15 social housing unit, five hospitals and nine colleges and universities have solar hot water through the SolarBC program.

* 546 homes have solar hot water through the SolarBC program.

* The funding for the schools' solar panels is part the Province's $5-million investment in the SolarBC program to encourage solar energy growth throughout B.C.

Learn More:

Details about solar energy for schools, can be found at: http://www.solarbc.ca/install/schools

Solar lesson plans can be found online at:

http://www.solarbc.ca/install-solar-hot-water/schools/lesson-plans

More information on solar energy, can be found at: http://www.empr.gov.bc.ca/RET/RenewableEnergyTechnologies/Solar/Pages/default.aspx

Media Contacts:

Jake Jacobs
Ministry of Energy and Mines
250 952-0628
250 213-6934 (cell) Julia M. Roberts

Manager
SolarBC
250-352-5492 (phone/fax)
250-354-7004 (cell)
Email: julia@solarbc.ca