Submission Details Submission ID 953

Transcription

1 Submission Details Submission ID 953 Submitted by Mrs. Anita Saul Category Global High Schools Sectors Energy Efficiency Sustainable Waste Management Activities Energy Policy & Regulation Project Development & Deployment Executive summary 1. Please give an overview of your school including size, location, brief history, any special focuses or mandates, and discuss the team involved in the bid. Our school, located on Muroor Road, was established in 1980 with two buildings and 600 students.. We reduced our energy consumption by 16% and received the Gold award in the Sustainable Schools Initiative. Our target is to achieve a zero carbon footprint. Our plan is a phased programme whereby we would introduce solar power for the school. We would install solar panels for lighting and fans, with a view to reduce carbon emission and to highlight the relevance of renewable energy. Possible alternative cooling systems will also be explored. Ever since the introduction of Sustainable Schools Initiative by Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi and ADEC, we have a full-fledged Eco Club which carries out activities on sustainable development all the year round. This includes observing environmental days, projects and community outreach. Our team consists of Eco Club students, teachers and prominent committee members. 2. Please provide an introduction to your project, including a description of the goal of the project or problem it is seeking to address. Please discuss the total cost of your proposed project and provide details of specific expenditures by providing supporting material including professional estimates from third party contractors or suppliers and any additional relevant information. Provide additional supportive materials where necessary including slide presentations, design documents, or short videos (<10 minutes) on the project plan. In the first phase we would install solar panels for one portion of the building. In the next phase we would distribute solar power to both the buildings and the auditorium. In the third phase we would set

2 up solar panels with storage batteries.. We have contacted a professional PV solar panel manufacturer to supply the a proposal and plan along with the expenditure. Our school's Eco Club has proposed this further plan as a means of exploring the possibilities and feasibility of renewable energy on which the modern world has to entirely depend in the future. Since AC's need more power than that supplied by solar power, students wish to study the use of alternative cooling methods without using huge electricity, by way of passive cooling, vortex cooling etc. Students would thus get opportunity for experimental research and learning. Innovation - 30% 3. In what ways is your approach to greening your school unique when compared to traditional green high school programs? The installing of solar panels will be of international standards and our target of replacing the entire school with renewable energy is, we feel a bold decision. There are many organisations which have already started or have planned to implement this, but we feel that as far as an educational institution is concerned this is a pioneering and bold attempt which will inspire other educational institutions to follow the lead. And educational institutions are the ideal places where awareness starts because it caters to the young generation and also because this awareness would spread to teachers, parents and the wider community. Moreover, our students want to take the initiative to try out alternate cooling systems which can be maintained by renewable energy sources. This would start with the help of respective science teachers and experts from outside. Since AC's need more power than that supplied by solar power, students wish to study the use of alternative cooing methods without using huge electricity, by way of passive cooling, vortex cooling etc. Students would like to explore more on traditional and natural cooling mechanisms as in old Arab architecture with wind towers and combine this technique with modern technology. Power from solar panels will be sufficient to run these cooling systems. First we will be trying this for a room or a small building a as pilot project to study an efficient method then we intend to spread out to other buildings of the school to eventually get rid of the use of conventional electricity and replace it 100 % by solar energy and other natural methods. 4. Please provide a detailed breakdown of the costs of the project covering the full amount of the grant. Do you plan to raise additional funds for your project in addition to any grant provided by the Zayed Future Energy Prize? Describe in detail any other fundraising efforts. Discuss how, if at all, the project will leverage input and resources from parents.

3 The only means of income for the school is the tuition fees of the students. Since it is a Bangladeshi Community School we don't expect any substantial funds from the parents. In case of emergency or dire need individual members of the community have contributed in the past. Similarly in case of a pressing need we may rely on some funds from them. However, for the present we think of implementing our proposed project within the range of the grant. The first phase will incur an expense of AED 151,000. The next two phases will incur approximately the same expenses, may be a little more because we would cover the cooling systems also. The detailed invoice given by the company is sent as attachment. Leadership - 20% 5. How will faculty leaders and students work together on project implementation? What type of support will the administration provide to the project? [max 200 words] We have selected around 15 active members of the Eco Club from grades VII to XII who are extremely motivated and involved in any project we do. We have reduced the energy consumption by 16% by replacing 508 tube lights of 40 Watts each with 254 energy-efficient lights, of 20 Watts each. Students are also trained to make efficient use of sunlight opening the curtains and letting the sunlight in during their break time and switch off unnecessary lights and AC's. Eco Club students and teachers will meet once a week to follow up and discuss on-going developments of the project, as we usually do whenever a project is on the way. Prominent members of the committee will help and guide the students and teachers involved to assess various stages of implementation, the methods, costs, duration, effectiveness and so on. We expect cooperation from the administration in allowing the students to use their free time in closely monitoring the different phases of the project. 6. Describe the project plan development in detail, including explanations of how students were involved in each development stage. How much of the final plan is the product of administration versus student input? As soon as we received the mail from Environment Agency and Zayed Future Energy Prize.com we informed our students who were very enthusiastic about being in the forefront for doing something worthwhile for our school regarding environmental conservation. We discussed different possibilities of renewable energy and since this is a hot country where sunlight is intense and available almost all the year round we decided to concentrate on solar energy as a major supplier of power. The students and the teachers discussed how and where to contact the responsible persons for installation of solar panels. After consulting various sources the students and the teachers finalised

4 one company specialising in renewable energy. The company listened to our requirements and came up with a proposed budget and plan. Students and respective teachers were involved in every communication process. We also took the help of the administration in contacting senior members of the school committee who have links with power management. Some members of the school executive committee are involved with the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity and Abu Dhabi Municipality who helped us immensely in guiding and supporting us in this venture. We had several meetings with them. Finally with proper correspondence through the administration and the management we were able to make a final plan for our project. 7. Explain which major activities will be carried out by students and which will be run by faculty at the initiation and organizational, implementation and monitoring, and continuity planning stages of the project. Include two student composed and two faculty composed narratives on why the project is important to the school and how the project has stimulated student interest in sustainability. During commissioning and setting up of the solar panels, which will be a phased one, students will be present along with the technicians and engineers to have a hand-on experience and to learn the functioning of the system. Fahad Bashar, Grade 11: Having learnt so much about renewable energy, energy depletion and global warming, it is indeed a very rare opportunity for us to get a hands-on experience about installation of solar panels which is being done in more and more places. We are also glad to educate our parents and younger students through this. Nabeeha Naomi Grade 5: Excited to know we can really see the solar system from near and proud to be the part to lessen carbon foot print.. Mrs. Rekha Thushar, Teacher: As one of the coordinators of the environment programmes of the school, I feel that this project will create more environmental awareness among students and teachers and reduce the carbon footprint in the UAE. Mrs. Anita Saul, Teacher: This project will give us confidence in taking up invasive measures in reducing carbon emissions and its subsequent impacts of global warming and climate change.

5 Long Term Vision - 30% 8. Is the project designed in a way that ensures continued implementation over multiple school years? How will the project continue to positively impact the school's sustainability in coming years? Since sustainable development is an on-going process, and renewable energy is the only solution for the future, the solar panels are sustainable for many years. The phase itself is designed to be implemented in a 3-phased programme and so will involve multiple school years. Along with students of Grade 11 and 12 who have more technical knowledge regarding solar power and solar panel installation, we have included several students of grades 7 and 8 who could continue to learn over the years and feel involved for several school years together. Over the years, with successful implementation of solar panels, the use of conventional energy will be dramatically reduced. As a result our natural resources can be preserved for more years. After the initial investment,in the first 9 years the investment costs will be fully covered.for the remaining 14 years of the life of a solar panel we will be getting the energy free of cost..we personally work under a no-profit scheme as it is a school, but an effective implementation will, apart from reducing the carbon foot-print in a wide area of activity, also prove beneficial for the common man as market prices come down and solar energy is accessible and within reach for all. This will also give rise to further demands and further innovations in this field of renewable energy. This will also help change the negative mindset of some of the teachers and students who do not think that energy conservation is directly relevant. 9. Has a leadership framework been established to ensure continued student and faculty support? Has a permanent student group been created to focus on sustainability initiatives? Under the leadership of the Principal, Vice-Principal, Environment Coordinators, Eco Club office bearers which include president, vice-president and members work as a body to hold regular meetings to discuss environmental awareness activities, projects and other outreach programmes. There is a permanent student group with respective roles given to monitor every area and part of the school building. Prizes are also awarded to students who show commitment to activities involving environmental protection and care. Several teachers are also permanent members of the Eco Club, who contribute with their talents and guidance. We have an eco club room where the meetings are held. Thanks to these regular activities students are well aware of the importance of conservation of water and electricity, reduction of waste, segregation of waste and recycling. Students are assigned to monitor segregation of waste and

6 send paper and plastic waste for periodic recycling. Drought resistant species of trees were planted during Afforestation Week. Composting is done is the school campus and no artificial pesticide or fertilizer is used. Watering is done only by using grey water and water from the ablution site next to the mosque inside the school campus. The school's e- waste have been collected and kept for suitable disposal through Plug-ins. Community outreach programmes are undertaken to spread environmental awareness to a wider public. The recent ones were at a super market and at a bank to highlight the hazards of plastic bags and encourage the use of biodegradable bags. 10. Outside of the in-school environment does the project aim to or achieve community wide impacts? Is there a significant educational component to the project? The successful introduction of solar panels in a school will inspire other schools to try out the same at least in a limited scale. New demands will need more supplies and more feasible models. The experimentation with alternate cooling systems will also result in more cost-effective solutions and costeffective models. There will be a dramatic decrease in the market price of solar panels and alternate cooling systems. At the same time energy conservation will be effectively implemented. Installation of solar panels and alternate cooling systems in school buildings have the potential to influence a wider community, thereby reaching out to offices, schools and school premises, hotels and new buildings wherein this concept can be introduced. Students will have a solid idea where conventional energy comes from, its exhaustible status, the importance of renewable energy for the sake of sustaining our natural resources and the consequences of increasing carbon footprint. Students will learn the consequences of carbon emissions like global warming, climate change. Students will also know the necessity of sustainable development with minimum waste generation. Solar panels will also prove beneficial for the common man as market prices will come down if solar energy is accessible and within reach for all. This will also give rise to further demands and further innovations in the field of renewable energy. Since there are more than 150 educational institutions in Abu Dhabi, the impact will be felt by other schools as well. Impact - 20% 11. Please provide an overview of the project's goals and the potential impact on the school's sustainability. Describe what tangible benefits the project will produce. Include all quantifiable targets and measurement criteria. The successful introduction of solar panels in a school will inspire other schools to try out the same at least in a limited scale. New demands will need more supplies and more feasible models. The

7 experimentation with alternate cooling systems will also result in more cost-effective solutions and costeffective models. There will be a dramatic decrease in the market price of solar panels and alternate cooling systems. At the same time energy conservation will be effectively implemented. Installation of solar panels and alternate cooling systems in school buildings have the potential to influence a wider community, thereby reaching out to offices, schools and school premises, hotels and new buildings wherein this concept can be introduced. Students will have a solid idea where conventional energy comes from, its exhaustible status, the importance of renewable energy for the sake of sustaining our natural resources and the consequences of increasing carbon footprint. Students will learn the consequences of carbon emissions like global warming, climate change. Students will also know the necessity of sustainable development with minimum waste generation. Solar panels will also prove beneficial for the common man as market prices will come down if solar energy is accessible and within reach for all. This will also give rise to further demands and further innovations in the field of renewable energy. Since there are more than 150 educational institutions in Abu Dhabi, the impact will be felt by other schools as well. 12. Discuss how performance will be tracked and indicate performance benchmarks. Please indicate any pre - existing sustainability initiatives at your school. The project's goals are primarily to reduce carbon footprint, inculcate the relevance of energy conservation in the young generation, to encourage research and innovative ideas into the field of renewable energy, especially solar energy in this country where sun's light is available all the year round. If implemented this will substantially reduce the carbon footprint.. If we replace our present energy efficient bulbs by LED bulbs we can reduce the present energy consumption by 70%. While using solar panel energy consumption will be reduced to 1/3rd. In conventional energy usage, unit rate usually increases from time to time. However, compared to conventional energy, solar energy unit price will dramatically come down in the near future. If for e.g fifteen years back the price of solar energy was approximately 15 U.S $ per watt. now the present market rate must have come down to US $. In the long run there will be minimal maintenance cost. As a future plan we will implement grid connected solar panel to serve the school's purpose in the day time and occasionally at night from the existing energy system expecting most of the energy will be exported to grid after getting suitable arrangement from government.