Goodbye load shedding hello green schools
Gauteng Premier, Nomvula Mokonyane together with the MECs for Infrastructure Development, Qedani Mahlangu and Education, Barbara Creecy officially opened two new solar powered schools in Johannesburg today.
“Noordwyk and Northriding Secondary Schools feature 55 meter solar farms, which are set to minimise electricity costs and combat the effects of load shedding by reducing dependency on the grid. When functioning optimally, the solar farms will generate an average 9 000 kilowatt hours a month, which is roughly enough electricity to power 72 households for a year,” said Premier Mokonyane.
According to MEC Mahlangu, “The solar farms consist of 300 solar panels and will provide electrical energy capable of running the entire school providing sufficient energy for all the lights, computers, laboratories, sockets and kitchen fittings to mention but a few. On a sunny day, the farm will produce excess power which will be channelled back into the Eskom grid. During the day the solar farm will power the school and when it is cloudy or dark Eskom power will switch on automatically. There are no moving parts and the only maintenance required is the occasional washing down of the solar panels”.
The schools are designed to maximise natural lighting. The sporting facilities and lawns will be maintained using storm and recycled water. "Downwater pipes harvest and filter rainwater from the roof, the water is then channelled into an independent underground drainage system which feeds into eight storage tanks with the combined capacity of eight kilolitres", added MEC Mahlangu.
The Department of Infrastructure Development has over the last 18 months pioneered ‘green schools,’ which have incorporated rainwater harvesting, solar water heating and sewer treatment plants into the design in support of Gauteng’s Green Agenda. The Green Agenda will drive energy efficiency and the use of renewable and clean energy sources thus reducing the provincial government’s carbon footprint.
Dr Francois Oosthuizen, principal of Northriding Secondary School said, "We have been given the wonderful gift of a green school, which offers staff and learners the unique opportunity to gain hands on knowledge of cutting edge green technology."
“Gauteng province is experiencing the highest in-migration of learners in South Africa. The Gauteng Provincial Government has set aside R694.1 million towards the planning and construction of new schools in 2014/15. A further R540.3 million has been allocated towards the rehabilitation of schools in the Province. We have built 141 new schools since 2009, with the number of schools increasing from 1 970 in 2009 to 2 070 in 2014. We look forward to delivering ‘greener’ more efficient educational facilities in Gauteng” said MEC Mahlangu. 382 indigent people including women, youth and the disabled received training and a wage during the construction of these schools.
For enquiries contact:
Ramona Baijnath
Cell: 076 942 3419
E-mail: ramona.baijnath@gauteng.gov.za
