2009 Schoolgen Yearbook
- From the Chief Executive
- Overview of the Schoolgen Yearbook
- Electricity generated
- Genesis Energy Highlights
- CO2 emissions saved
- Top Schools for 2009
- Exemplary Primary Students
- Exemplary Secondary Students
- School that generated the most electricity in 2009
From the Chief Executive
2009 was a tremendous year for the Schoolgen programme. A further 21 schools across the North Island had solar panels installed and the Schoolgen team has been working hard to support all 42 Schoolgen schools in their involvement in the programme.
Genesis Energy would like to thank the Schoolgen schools for their energy and commitment to Schoolgen over the past four years. We are starting to see some really exciting results from our schools and we look forward to seeing what 2010 brings.
Genesis Energy is very committed to the Schoolgen programme; supporting staff to get involved when they can and always looking for ways to add value to the programme. Two exciting new initiatives were trialed in 2009 which we look forward to introducing to the programme in 2010.
I encourage you to read our inaugural Schoolgen Yearbook to find out what we achieved last year in the programme.
Albert Brantley
Chief Executive
Overview of the Schoolgen Yearbook
Schoolgen schools are required to provide feedback on their experience as a Schoolgen school to Genesis Energy each year. By providing Genesis Energy with this information we can keep improving the programme as well as share ideas for teaching students about solar energy amongst the schools. Schoolgen has been designed as a programme that schools can mould to ft their own needs.
Genesis Energy provides the basic platform, with live data from the solar panels that is displayed on the Schoolgen website and supported by the Schoolgen teaching resources, but schools have the freedom to interpret the programme as appropriate for their students and can modify the resources to fit their school's curriculum programme.
Electricity generated
In 2009 75,572kWh of electricity was generated by the 2kW photovoltaic systems installed on the 42 Schoolgen schools. This is enough to power approx eight typical New Zealand homes for a year.
Genesis Energy Highlights
Staff involvement
One of the great things about Schoolgen is that Genesis Energy staff also get involved. Five Genesis Energy staff used their 'volunteer day' to help man the activity stations at the Schoolgen Cluster day trial. Other staff during the year spoke to classes about energy management or participated in Schoolgen careers days. This is hugely appreciated by schools as it gives their students a chance to interact with real people in real jobs.
Ministerial support
Genesis Energy was very honoured when the Hon Dr Nick Smith, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change issues, accepted the invitation to attend the Wellington Schoolgen launch at Clifton Terrace Model School on 2nd April 2009.
Buddy School and Cluster Day trials
Genesis Energy undertook successful trials of the Schoolgen Buddy School and Cluster Day concepts in 2009. The purpose of the two concepts is to empower schools that have received the solar panels to become a lead Schoolgen school to neighbouring schools and to create a means for new schools to participate in Schoolgen without requiring solar panels. Genesis Energy looks forward to introducing the Buddy School and Cluster Day initiatives later in 2010.
CO2 emissions saved
In 2009 14 tonnes of CO2 was saved as a result of Schoolgen! 1 tonne of CO2 weighs as much as 10 baby elephants.
Top Schools for 2009
Nine schools that showed outstanding contribution and student involvement in the Schoolgen programme were selected as our top Schoolgen schools for 2009. The Schoolgen team was looking for schools that had appointed a Schoolgen lead teacher and established a lead Schoolgen student team, had linked the Schoolgen resources into the curriculum, and had created school wide initiatives which embrace solar energy and informed the wider community about solar energy through the school website, newsletters etc.
Silverdale School
Silverdale School created a Schoolgen team of 12 students selected as part of their Gifted and Talented programme.
These students are taking a lead role with the whole school learning about solar energy and communicating this to other students. They are also planning to develop ways the school can reduce its carbon footprint.
Clifton Terrace Model School
In 2009 a number of studies relating to Schoolgen were completed by Clifton Terrace Model School's three home groups. Following the completion of these studies all students showed a greater awareness of energy usage and were exploring ways to conserve energy both at home and at school.
Eastern Hutt
Eastern Hutt School undertook a whole school study 'Energy for the Future' in Term 2 in 2009.
Different levels in the school had a different focus to make it appropriate for the age group: the junior classes focussed on animal coverings and how they keep warm (including a visit to the zoo); The middle and senior classes looked at the Schoolgen data after recording the weather each day to see how the weather correlates with the amount of electricity produced from the solar panels.
Forest Lake
The beginning of 2009 saw the Forest Lake 'Power Board' established. The team was made up of Year 5 to 7 students who were very interested in learning how the solar panels could save the school money while educating the school community about reducing power within the classroom and their home environment.
Every morning before 9am a Power Board member reads the meter box and compares the daily usage to see if the school is saving energy. That student then reports back to the team on how well the school is saving power.
Mercury Bay Area School
Mercury Bay Area School in Whitianga also undertook a whole of school study of energy in 2009. Their Year 2 classes investigated what would happen if there was no electricity to the Coromandel for six months. As a result of this unit, students decided that solar panels should be used for all Whitianga street lighting!
Paraparaumu College
In Term 3, Year 10 Science students from Paraparaumu College engaged in cooperative learning to investigate aspects of electricity generation using solar energy as part of a unit on Electricity. Students presented their findings to their peers and conducted self review activities to determine how the assignments could be improved in future years.
Wadestown
A group of Year 3-5 students, known as the 'Solar Squad' was formed in Term 1 2009 with the Schoolgen lead teacher. The Solar Squad analysed the data generated by the solar panels to answer the question 'What could our solar panels run?' The students used the information to ascertain what appliances per month/week/day the panels were running in their school.
Pukehou School
Pukehou School also undertook a whole school study using the Schoolgen teaching resources in 2009. Every day during the 10-week study, all four classes at the school looked at the data from the solar panels.
Pukehou School has also shown great effort in their communication about the solar panels. For example, every week a graph of their solar output is placed in the school newsletter.
Raglan Area School
Raglan Area School has embraced the programme throughout all levels (0-13). Across the school there is a high level of understanding and awareness of the programme, with both teachers and students. The community is also made aware through newspaper articles and the school newsletter.
Raglan Area School is the pilot lead school for the Schoolgen Buddy School programme with Te Uku School. A group has been formed, called the Bright Sparks, consisting of Year 0-13 students, who take their expertise about solar energy to Te Uku School. It has been a very positive leadership experience.
Exemplary primary students
Clifton Terrace Model School
A year eight student at Clifton Terrace Model School, examined the benefits and challenges of solar energy in relation to other forms of energy used for power consumption.
To begin with he watched a number of video clips on different forms of harnessing energy and how these different forms operated. An examination of the impacts on the wider environment was undertaken and he discussed various ways these impacts could be minimized. Information that he collected was presented to the senior home group as a power point presentation.
Georgia Keene - Eastern Hutt School
To celebrate the end of the 2009 year, a challenge was given to all students at Eastern Hutt School: tell the rest of the school about what it means to them, the school, the community or the future to be generating electricity from a renewable energy source. Georgia Keene, aged 8, wrote a song 'I see energy in a new light' and then sang it in front of 650 people!
Exemplary secondary student
Raphael House - Rudolf Steiner School
The entire question of sustainability, environmentally-friendly energy and solar energy was taken on by four Year 13 students at Raphael House. The research undertaken by these students showed high level critical thinking with the students suggesting some constructive ideas for improvements to the teaching material for Schoolgen! Congratulations also to Elwin Burger for making a solar powered USB charger for electrical devices that are used in the student common room.
School that generated the most electricity in 2009
Congratulations to Raglan Area School for being the school that generated the most solar electricity in 2009. They generated 2,891kWh of electricity from their solar panels and saved 541.3kg of CO2! Coming a close second was Maeroa Intermediate in Hamilton with 2716kWh of electricity.
