NEWS May 8, 2009
London’s four area School Boards will receive over $24 million to make our schools more energy efficient and to give students better places to learn and help boards save energy and money. Construction will start as soon as this summer.
This is part of a two-year province-wide investment that will help improve existing schools across Ontario, while creating and sustaining more than 5,500 jobs. Of the $550 million investment, $400 million will be allocated to:
- Conduct energy audits to help manage and conserve energy
- Retrofit buildings with new energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and boilers.
For the London area, this means:
- $14,286,352 for the Thames Valley District School Board
- $4,677,801 for the London District Catholic School Board
- $3,059,845 for the Conseil scolaire de district du Centre Sud-Ouest
- $2,341,127 for the Conseil scolaire de district des écoles catholiques du Sud-Ouest
The remaining $150 million will be allocated on a project-by-project basis to improve the learning environment for students currently in energy inefficient portables and schools.
Ontario schools are also teaching kids how to be more environmentally friendly. Starting in the fall of 2009, environmental education will be added to the curriculum in every subject in every grade. And programs such as EcoSchools are teaching students about conserving energy, minimizing waste and greening school grounds.
QUOTES
"Vibrant school environments start from the ground up. By retrofitting our schools right here in London, we’re creating jobs while saving energy and money, and teaching our kids about greener ways to live."
- Deb Matthews, MPP London North Centre
"We are very pleased this money was made available to our board to keep our schools in good repair and, at the same time, energy efficient. This is helping greatly on both fronts."
- Wilma de Rond, Director of Education, London District Catholic School Board
QUICK FACTS
- This investment will help lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce annual energy consumption by about 100 million megajoules per year, enough to power over 2,500 houses.
- Since 2003, the McGuinty government has invested $4.8 billion through the Good Places to Learn program. So far, almost 12,000 school renewal projects, which include replacing roofs, windows and boilers, are underway or completed across the province.
LEARN MORE
CONTACT
Deb Matthews, (519) 432-7339