Mile 108 Elementary School greener

“Improved heating efficiency, a more comfortable learning environment and a cleaner air shed are all benefits of these projects.”

Thanks to an investment of $1.4 million from the provincial government and School District 27 (SD27), students in the Cariboo-Chilcotin will benefit from cleaner air and more efficient heating.

The three schools in SD27 are Naghtaneqed, Alexis Creek and Mile 108 Elementary, and $705,000 was allotted for this school district.

“The province is working with northern and interior school districts to ensure we keep our education funding focused on students, not on heating schools,” says Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.

“Improved heating efficiency, a more comfortable learning environment and a cleaner air shed are all benefits of these projects.”

Qualifying school districts make a minimum matching investment of 50 per cent of the total budget for specific green projects.

Money already earmarked for an energy-efficient mechanical upgrade from SD27 annual facilities grant was coupled with the announcement on July 23 of the B.C. Liberal government investment of $250,000 in school capital and maintenance projects.

SD27 secretary/treasurer Bonnie Roller says it was already decided to go ahead with repairing the heating/cooling system and, therefore, some work was started in late spring.

Workers have been testing the ground around Mile 108 Elementary School and found it viable for a geothermal heating system. The funding negates the need to repair the old system and a geothermal loop will be installed.

It will make a significant reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions, says Roller.

“The addition of the [geothermal] exchange system will increase the efficiency and reduce maintenance, which we had with the old system.”

Mile 108 Elementary will receive a ground-source heat pump system. The estimated carbon footprint reduction is 76 per cent or 63 tonnes per year.

The school has already cut its environmental impact. Last year, a grant from Solar BC, with a requirement that it have a teaching component, helped with a solar project. It was part of the Grade 6 science curriculum.

There are solar panels and heat collectors now, says 108 and Lac la Hache school trustee Pete Penner.

The energy savings are estimated at $16,000 a year, he adds.

This isn’t the last of the green projects, Penner says, adding a SD27 committee has been formed for future projects.

“If there is anyone who has ideas on efficiency and reducing our school districts carbon footprint, contact your school trustee or check out the school district’s website at www.sd27.bc.ca.”