Bishop Laish Boyd blesses the solar energy system installed with grant funding from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme at St. John’s College pool. (Photos: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff)
ST. JOHN’S College unveiled its new solar energy system yesterday, making it the first Anglican school in The Bahamas to introduce sustainable energy.
With a $50,000 grant from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEFSGP) the school is harnessing the sun’s energy to help power its campus and move towards renewable energy sources. The College’s pool facility will be entirely powered by solar energy.
Charlene Carey, the Project Consultant, told The Tribune that both sustainability and saving money for the school were serious factors in the solar initiative. She said that The Bahamas is one of the “top ten countries affected by climate change” and therefore had to contribute to a more sustainable future.
The College’s Principal, Dr. Nevillene Evans, said that the staff of St. John’s had taken part in a “professional development workshop” to increase the awareness of sustainability in the classrooms, resulting in a decision to implement a solar energy system.
The school community has been working diligently since last August to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy on campus. “At the beginning of the school year our teachers participated in a professional development workshop which focused on how they could take climate change into the classroom,” said Dr. Evans. “Throughout the year, our students under the guidance of Father Shazz Turnquest explored energy efficiency resulting in the creation of an energy conservation policy for our school. We look forward to implementing the policy in September and participating in the Eco-Schools Bahamas programme in the new school year.”
Fr. Turnquest, the physics teacher, started a student-led campaign with his “energy club” to explore ways in which the St. John’s campus could increase sustainability further still. Next school year, St. John’s will be participating in the “Eco-Schools Bahamas Programme”, improving energy and water use as well as waste reduction.
“The Anglican education system fosters in students a knowledge of, and love for, their environment,” Kevin Ryan, Chairman. “By installing solar energy, we have reduced our contribution to climate change with the added benefit of significantly reducing the school’s electricity bill.”
Father Colin Saunders co-ordinated the project, which started with the professional development seminar on climate change for the faculty, and encompassed an assessment of campus energy usage, the adddition of Eco-booths to the College’s annual Mardi Gras school fair, the development and adoption of a student-driven energy conservation policy and the installation of a photovoltaic system, which was officially commissioned yesterday.
Deon Stewart, a representative of the GEFSGP, gave brief remarks during an unveiling ceremony yesterday, after which the solar facility was blessed by Bishop Laish Boyd before its official opening. The blessing coincided with the graduation ceremony of the Class of 2016.
Representatives from the school recognised contributions from students, staff, Walker’s Industries Ltd., the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, the Bahamas National Trust and the GEFSGP for making the St. John’s solar energy system possible.
By Alexander Hawkins
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