Qingdao in the east Shandong province of China has the rare distinction of having China’s first solar-powered school. The Hushanlu primary school was inaugurated on Monday, September 17, 2007. The school will no longer have to worry about water supply and heating system anymore, because it is incorporated with solar energy heat and photovoltaic generating systems. These systems have a combined generating capacity of 30 kilowatts, while the photovoltaic generating system alone can produce an amazing 150 kilowatt-hours of electricity everyday. Great isn’t it? Sun’s energy harnessed through the 600 square meters of the heat utilization system can convert solar energy for heating and boiling water for 860 students and teachers accommodated in 30 classrooms. Not just classrooms, even the approximately 100 solar-powered lights on the campus are powered with the help of this solar energy. The best part is that even on cloudy or rainy days the school will continue to get solar power, because, the stored electricity can support the normal need of the school for five days! Can you imagine the amount of energy this eco-friendly school will save? You will be glad to know that the Hushanlu primary school will save about 65 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, 261 tons of coal, 695 tons of carbon dioxide, 4.6 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 4.9 tons of industrial waste emissions, and atmospheric pollutants by 4 tons every year! No mean achievement, for a primary school. Not only will the school save valuable energy, but its students will also get important first hand lessons in renewable energy resources. I hope the government and the people will be inspired to try and build more solar powered buildings, and thus help the world to become a little more pollution free. Source
