Province, Students Saving Energy in Schools

The province is investing in school renovations that will cut costs and save energy.

Speaking at an Earth Day assembly at Dartmouth High School today, April 22, Bill Estabrooks, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia, said $11.4-million in the 2010-11 budget for such improvements will make life more affordable by allowing schools across the province to cut operating costs and become more environmentally friendly.

"Schools in every school board are completing a variety of energy retrofit construction projects to save energy, and be better for the environment," said Mr. Estabrooks. "Saving energy will help make more funding available for learning, and sets an excellent example for young Nova Scotians."

Projects include more energy-efficient lighting, replacing windows, upgrading energy management and building controls systems, and converting to natural gas. The long-term energy savings will eventually surpass the amount invested for the retrofits. The province contributed $10 million toward energy-saving construction in 2009-10.

The students are getting into the act as well. Dartmouth High's Philosophy 12 class started Schools Appreciating Valuable Energy, or SAVE, during a unit on Environmental Philosophy. It encourages students to use less energy on a daily basis and monitors the results.

"We brought the idea of SAVE to the Halifax school board and they were very receptive," said Will Andrea, a Grade 12 student at Dartmouth High. "They agreed to give us half the money our school saved on power, so it's a win-win situation."

Mr. Estabrooks said raising awareness of such environmentally friendly initiatives helps encourage more people to become involved.

"By teaching young people the importance of saving energy, schools are moving in the right direction to become more efficient, save money, and help our environment remain a magnificent spectacle for future generations of Nova Scotians."