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Student power brings solar power to Iroquois Ridge By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 7 · Wednesday, April 28, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com With a $6.2-million infusion from the Province, the Halton District School Board is using those green banknotes to turn some of its schools the same colour -- green. One of the schools to benefit from the Province's Green Schools Pilot Initiative funding is Iroquois Ridge High School. "We're happy, we're very happy," said Grade 11 student Elizabeth Chan. "We were very happy when we found out we were getting the solar panels." Chan is a member of the eco-schools team at Iroquois Ridge that, for the past two school years, has worked to bring the technology to the school. Last week, that work was realized with the installation of 25 large solar panels on the roof of the school which are capable of producing 10 kilowatts, or 14 megawatts in the course of a year. Tim Butler, teacher and advisor on the ecoschools team, said the work of the students helped put Iroquois Ridge on the forefront of the project. M.M. Robinson High School in Burlington is another Halton public school to get the solar panels. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER SOLAR POWER: Iroquois Ridge's EcoSchool Team bask in the sun when their labour was rewarded with the installation of solar panels for their school. "We have this great big roof and it's just sitting dents in the club researched various energy techthere and it can be used for some clean energy nologies, petitioned students at the school and production," Butler said. wrote letters to officials to have the solar panel Over the past two academic years, the stu- installation at the school approved. 57 Butler admits the school will produce only a small fraction of the electricity it consumes, but aside from the small reduction in the utility bill, there are other benefits. "We're talking about incorporating it into science for the study of electricity," he said. He added the solar panels could also be used for study in math, geography and many other subjects. Iroquois Ridge is a certified eco-school. Last year it was certified gold and silver the year before that. Butler said the school expects another gold certificate this year. The school is also getting clean cooling tower technology through the funding, as are some other schools, including Oakville's West Oak Public School, Georgetown's Silver Creek and Burlington's C.H. Norton. Other projects include advanced lighting management systems at Acton's McKenzieSmith Bennett and Milton's Hawthorne Village public schools; greywater/rainwater recycling projects at Halton Hills' Pineview and Limehouse public schools; and a modular rooftop solar-air heating system at Oakville's Eastview Public School. The school board is contributing more than $1.28 million from its budget to the projects. Ends April 30, 2010 Anniversary Celebration th LAST CHANCE! Every se Purchaes to QualifiRIZES WIN P Storewide Free Gift t Savings Purwhiah c se* $139. Includes Delivery within zones TK2840 You call - we deliver, even if you're not home.TM Voted "Best Pasta" in Mississauga! for May in honour of ou honour of our o 25th Anniversary** y Placemat Giveaw Givea way Announcing the 3 LOCATIONS Plus Coming Soon to Oakville PALMA PASTA (Queensway Noodles) 2325 Hurontario St. (905) 896-0225 Open 7 Days HURONTARIO ST. ERIN MILLS PKWY. MISSISSAUGA RD. DUNDAS ST. CAWTHRA RD. QUEENSWAY QEW PALMA PASTA (Kitchen) 3475 Semenyk Court (905) 896-9000 Open 5 Days 403 FOLKWAY BURNHAMTHORPE RD. WOLFEDALE RD. MAVIS RD. MISSISSAUGA RD. ERINDALE STATION RD. 403 BURNHAMTHORPE RD. CENTRAL PKWY. WEST SEMENYK CRT. DUNDAS ST. PALMA PASTA (Michael-Angelo's Plaza) 4099 Erin Mills Pkwy. (905) 820-7900 Open 7 Days EGLINTON AVE. **One placemat per customer with a minimum purchase of $50.00 (before taxes) for the month of May. While quantities last.