34<strong>Spring</strong> <strong>is</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2005</strong>
Power from the sun Retze Koen describes the Inter-Community School Zürich Solar Project On the morning of the 24th June last year, 8th grade students, who had been working on energy concepts in humanities and science, helped to install two new panels in addition to the ex<strong>is</strong>ting power plant on the roof of the school building. Their effort brought immediate results, as the graph on the d<strong>is</strong>play showed: it significantly jumped. Th<strong>is</strong> was the second step in a project that the Inter-Community School, Zürich, Switzerland (ICSZ) organ<strong>is</strong>ed together with solar experts and the Youth Solar Project (YSP) of Greenpeace. How it all started In 2002 Graham Gardner, teacher at the ICSZ, heard about the YSP in a chance encounter with a member of the local Greenpeace organization. The first contact was fruitful, but due to time constraints finances couldn’t be arranged until Sept. 2003. Although Greenpeace supported the project log<strong>is</strong>tically, educationally and financially, the whole process was initiated and realized by the students and their teachers. They organ<strong>is</strong>ed funds, installed the panels and a v<strong>is</strong>ual d<strong>is</strong>play device, searched for energy leaks in the building, held a press conference, took photographs and a video, wrote reports and celebrated the grand opening with music and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. “Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong> a good project, it <strong>is</strong> practical and connected with daily life”, said teacher and project leader Graham Gardner. He admits, that it wasn’t always easy to keep motivation amongst the students high as a serious project like th<strong>is</strong> <strong>is</strong>n’t all action, but the more the day of the installation neared, the more engaged the youngsters became. With experiences like th<strong>is</strong> young people learn that they are capable of making positive changes in the community. Th<strong>is</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> the 3rd step will be realized. At the moment ICSZ doesn’t have any further concrete plans, but perhaps future solar projects are possible. The Youth Solar Project <strong>is</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2005</strong> <strong>Spring</strong> SunClass+: The Project Simply, economically and step-by-step, schools can build up their own solar power plant. With the construction of a photo-voltaic power plant Greenpeace Switzerland supports schools, that see the use of solar energy as a real chance for our future and integrate it in their daily learning. With sunclass+ the Youth Solar Project aims at introducing as many high school students and teachers as possible to solar energy. It enables them to mount a solar power plant on the roof of their school. In th<strong>is</strong> way solar energy <strong>is</strong> made v<strong>is</strong>ible to young people. It also makes them think about how wasteful ex<strong>is</strong>ting practices are, and they can search their schools for energy-devouring sources in what <strong>is</strong> called an ‘energy hunt’. It begs the question, <strong>is</strong> it possible to save as much power as that being generated by the new solar power plant? If the answer <strong>is</strong> yes, a ‘virtual’ solar panel has been created: that <strong>is</strong>, for the money saved, it may thus be possible to finance another solar panel. The project does not end after building the first solar panel. The school ensures that for at least three years, one panel a year <strong>is</strong> added on until the solar system reaches a capacity of 1 kW. By extending the solar-power plant, electricity-consumption and solar energy will remain a topic of interest and d<strong>is</strong>cussion for several years. Every school in Switzerland can afford to take part in the project. The starter kit—a small functional solar system with a d<strong>is</strong>play device developed by young people—<strong>is</strong> co-financed by the Youth Solar Project. The school <strong>is</strong> then meant to provide the financial means required for the further extension of the power plant. Retze Koen, <strong>is</strong> a Dutch national, ex-naval officer and teacher. He has lived in Switzerland since 1989 and has worked with the YSP since 1997. In May 1998, Greenpeace Switzerland started the Youth Solar Project (YSP). It aims to give young people a chance to participate actively in supporting solar energy and promoting a future-oriented energy supply. Not only photovoltaic, but also thermal systems and solar cookers (mainly in developing countries) can be constructed by children and young adults. So far (May <strong>2005</strong>), more than 100 solar systems have been built in Switzerland. In order to benefit from the technical and financial support provided by the Youth Solar Project, the school must generally meet the following requirements: Young people must actively take part in building and installing the power plant. During the construction stage, the project must be promoted in the media. Solar energy must be integrated in the schoolwork. Important: Th<strong>is</strong> project has been developed for Sw<strong>is</strong>s schools and youth groups. Occasionally the YSP can support projects abroad. Th<strong>is</strong> article <strong>is</strong> mainly meant to present an idea. However, the YSP <strong>is</strong> also part of the international Greenpeace Youth campaign Solar Generation: So far 13 countries take part in it. Some of them are starting similar projects like the YSP. If you want to know more (in Engl<strong>is</strong>h), please v<strong>is</strong>it: www.solargeneration.org For more information (in German) about the YSP, www.jugendsolarprojekt.ch Solar Project 35