在整个城市分布超过250栋建筑物的情况下，卡尔加里教育委员会一直在努力寻找改善能源效率、降低成本和减少温室气体排放的方法。其中一个表现就是承诺使用太阳能——包括安装和教育。

太阳能学校项目的第二阶段于今年初完成，在卡尔加里教育委员会学校安装了15套新的太阳能光伏系统，使得拥有太阳能发电的CBE学校总数达到了47所。

“我们已经在CBE可持续发展框架2030中做出承诺，旨在减少温室气体排放并增加学校的可再生能源系统的能源生产，” CBE可持续发展协调员Olena Olafson表示。

通过最近这轮安装，CBE的总安装容量现在达到4,865 kW DC，预计将产生约5,956 MWh/年的电能，大致相当于CBE总电消耗的百分之七。

2021年6月，董事会授权使用资本储备来增强CBE学校的太阳能发电组合。其中约270万美元的资金是由阿尔伯塔市政气候行动中心(MCCAC)提供的太阳能学校计划。MCCAC是阿尔伯塔市政府、阿尔伯塔农村市政府和阿尔伯塔省政府的合作伙伴。太阳能学校计划的资金由阿尔伯塔省政府提供。

要参与太阳能学校计划，参与学校必须同意将教育组成部分融入学生的课程，涵盖采取行动应对气候变化的重要性以及可再生能源如何帮助实现这一目标。

Olafson表示：“通过这一举掌，我们能够以模仿学生将需要为可持续未来做出贡献的行为方式，为他们提供与现实生活学习的机会。”

每所学校都有一个名为SolarVu的能源门户显示面板。这个基于Web的平台持续监测系统的性能，并收集太阳能电池板的能源生产、收入、状态和趋势等实时数据。

员工和学生可以使用一些课程和教程了解太阳能及太阳能光伏系统。例如，Hillhurst学校的五年级学生正在利用SolarVu更好地了解他们学校的能源使用情况以及替代能源系统的影响。

该校的三至四年级学生一直在学习有关电力和可再生能源的知识。学生们通过探索和组装迷你手摇发电机来了解简单机械和电力。学生们还研究了家庭和全球能源消耗以及该消费对我们世界的影响。

Hillhurst学校的一位老师谈到了学习的好处，并说：“整个过程使得学生参与的学习变得有意义、具有挑战性，并且与他们周围的世界紧密联系。学生们积极探索、学习，并将他们的知识应用于解决他们的世界中的问题。”

With more than 250 buildings spread across the city, the Calgary Board of Education is continually looking for ways to improve energy efficiency, reduce costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. One way this is demonstrated is through a commitment to solar energy – both installation and education.

Phase Two of the Solar for Schools project was completed earlier this year with 15 new solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed on CBE schools, bringing the total number of CBE schools with solar generation to 47.

“We have made commitments in the CBE Sustainability Framework 2030 to reduce GHG emissions and increase school energy generation from renewable energy systems,” said CBE Sustainability Coordinator Olena Olafson.

With this most recent round of installations, the CBE’s total installed capacity is now 4,865 kW DC which will generate approximately 5,956 MWh/yr or roughly seven per cent of the CBE’s total electrical consumption.

In June 2021 the Board of Trustees authorized the use of capital reserves to enhance the solar power portfolio in CBE schools. Approximately $2.7 million of the funding was provided by the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) Solar for Schools program. The MCCAC is a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta. Funding for the Solar for Schools Program was provided by the Government of Alberta.

In order to be a part of the Solar for Schools program, participating schools must agree to integrate an educational component into the students’ curriculum covering the importance of taking action on climate change and how renewable energy can help achieve this goal.

“Through this initiative, we are able to offer real-life student learning opportunities in a way that models the behaviour students will need to contribute to a sustainable future,” said Olafson.

Each school has access to an energy portal dashboard called SolarVu. The web-based platform continuously monitors the performance of the system and real-time data collection on energy production, revenue, status and trends from the solar panels.

There are a number of lessons and tutorials available to staff and students to learn about solar energy and their solar PV system. For example, Grade 5 students at Hillhurst School have been utilizing SolarVu to better understand the energy usage of their school as well as the impact of alternative energy systems.

Grade 3-4 students at the school have been learning about electricity and renewable energy. Students explored and built mini hand generators with their understanding of simple machines and electricity. Students also looked at household and global energy consumption and the impact that consumption has on our world.

A teacher from Hillhurst School spoke of the learning benefits and said: “The entirety of the process has made the learning for the students involved meaningful, challenging, and connected to the world around them. Students were motivated to explore, learn, and apply their knowledge to solve problems in their world.”