After showing their schools can save significant money from energy conservation efforts, $120,000 last year alone, Rainbow District School Board officials say it is time for students to take the message home.
"We are expanding our environmental education and sustainability efforts from the classroom to the community through the wonders of technology," said Rainbow District School Board chair Dena Morrison.
She spoke at a launch for the computer-based interactive home audit Monday morning at Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School.
"We are monitoring our energy use in Rainbow schools and
implementing efficiency measures in order to achieve savings.
With the launch of the Interactive Home Audit, we are inviting
homeowners to model what we are doing in our schools," said
Morrison.
The interactive Home Audit software program will educate
homeowners about a number of items. They include estimating the
amount of energy being consumed in their homes, the cost of
that energy and water use per month, what efficiency measures
can be implemented to reduce consumption, the dollar savings
after efficiency measures are implemented and the impact those
personal actions have on the environment.
"They will be able to calculate how much money they could save
by implementing efficiency measures in their homes. Residents
will be able to see, first-hand, how personal actions have a
significant impact on the environment," said Morrison.
The Rainbow District School Board's environmental website
tracks each school's progress in its own efficiency drive, as
well as teacher resources, educational links and success
stories.
Students are directly involved in making their schools more
energy efficient.
Diane Cayen-Arnold, chief financial officer for the school
board, said, "Student-run activities such as turning off lights
and computers, closing taps and making garbage less lunches are
saving, energy, water and reducing waste…approximately $120,000
in savings in utilities in the 2004/05 school year."
