is magazine 8.1 - Autumn/Spring 2005 - International Schools ...

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 existing
power plant on the roof of the school building. Their effort
brought immediate results, as the graph on the display showed: it
significantly jumped. This was the second step in a project that
the Inter-Community School, Zürich, Switzerland (ICSZ) organised
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 logistically, educationally
and financially, the whole process was initiated and realized
by the students and their teachers. They organised funds,
installed the panels and a visual display 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.
“This is a good project, it is 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 this isn’t all action, but the more the
day of the installation neared, the more engaged the youngsters
became. With experiences like this young people learn that they
are capable of making positive changes in the community.
This Autumn 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
is Autumn 2005
Spring
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 this way solar energy is made visible to young people.
It also makes them think about how wasteful existing practices
are, and they can search their schools for energy-devouring
sources in what is called an ‘energy hunt’. It begs the question, is
it possible to save as much power as that being generated by the
new solar power plant? If the answer is yes, a ‘virtual’ solar panel
has been created: that is, 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
is 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 discussion 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 display
device developed by young people—is co-financed by the Youth
Solar Project. The school is then meant to provide the financial
means required for the further extension of the power plant.
Retze Koen, is 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 2005), 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:
This project has been developed for Swiss schools and youth groups. Occasionally the YSP can support projects
abroad. This article is mainly meant to present an idea. However, the YSP is 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 English), please visit: www.solargeneration.org
For more information (in German) about the YSP, www.jugendsolarprojekt.ch
Solar Project
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