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Dec. 14, 2011
for immediate release
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Wildwood School students learn about alternative energy

CALGARY – The opportunity for students to learn about alternative energy is advancing Wednesday when solar panels are being installed at Wildwood School.

Wildwood joins nine other CBE schools that have installed alternative energy demonstration projects, which include solar thermal, wind and solar PV. These projects combined with other CBE energy-efficiency projects have resulted in a 10 per cent reduction in energy use since 2007 based on the CBE’s Energy Use Index.

Students at Wildwood have been involved in a variety of environmental initiatives during the past several years. The school was recognized by the U.S. Consulate in Calgary on Earth Day as being a model environmental learning school. In 2010, the environment club’s film “Tiny Footprints” won the People’s Choice Award at the Calgary International Film Festival’s Youth by Youth competition.

“Our students feel it's important to use less energy and reduce their ecological footprint by meeting some of our school’s energy needs from solar power instead of from fossil fuels,” says Dave Quon, principal at Wildwood School. “The effort started with students looking at their mechanical operations, such as water, electricity and heat, and wanting to make them more sustainable.”

The installation of these solar panels is part of the CBE’s on-going effort to promote environmental stewardship through action and education.

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