Renewable Energy Discounts For Schools
In Germany, many schools have solar panels to cover part of their energy costs. However, their operation and use are rarely integrated into the curriculum. The Federal Ministry of the Environment (BMU) has decided to develop this educational potential by offering “solar support packs” which include an array of real-time display of energy produced by the panels as well as a recording device that transmits data to the computer network of the school, thereby making them accessible to students. These technical installations and other measuring devices installed by the German Society for Solar Energy (DGS eV), are accompanied by educational materials designed by experts from the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU eV) of Berlin.
The Minister pointed in his speech that “the turning point energy is a community and a generational prject: with programs like this, it is possible to wake up the interest and the enthusiasm for the potential of renewable energy” . With these facilities, students can indeed receive more concretely the energy from the sun.
Already 600 schools and training institutions in Germany have been equipped with boards that integrate science courses to the data received. At the end of the project, one tenth of schools with solar panels should be provided with the complete package.
The project is part of the “Climate protection in schools and training institutions” action program and is funded by the National Initiative for Climate Protection.
Basma Jalloul – Green Energy International Correspondent – 24/03/2012