While B.C.’s first net zero school will be green, money to build it doesn’t grow on trees.
That's why School District 43 is forming a committee to promote and raise funds for the project on Burke Mountain.
The school is needed for a growing residential area and has been on the district’s capital list for years. But the province has not yet approved it and additional cash above baseline costs is needed to pay for elements such as solar panels, geothermal heating, water conservation measures and other initiatives to make the school the most environmentally friendly in Canada.
To get the project underway, SD43 is appealing to potential sponsors, and the community and can provide tax-deductible donations through its education foundation.
But what is net zero and what are the benefits? According to the district, a net zero school wouldn’t use more energy than it produces, and could utilize a number of building efficiencies and design elements while also being a model for other schools and teaching students about the value of committing to the environment.
For example, SD43 said, “Expertise gained in the construction of this building can be used in other new buildings and potentially used to retrofit existing buildings.”
That’s where the new committee comes in. At Tuesday's board of education meeting, trustees approved the establishment of a Green School Committee to advance the project, and raise additional funds needed to cover the cost of special green elements.
The committee, comprising trustees and staff, will meet regularly until the school is built, according to a staff report.
One company is already on board to support the joint middle/high school; recently, developer Wesbild committed $5 million to the construction of a sports field.
Originally slated for 2023, the new Burke Mountain secondary school will start out with students in Grades 6 to 12, then become a standard Grade 9-to-12 secondary school when enrolment increases and funding is approved for a future middle school.
THE GREEN STUFF
Here’s a partial list of some of the environmental measures being considered for the planned Burke Mountain school:
• solar panels;
• geothermal heating and cooling;
• wind turbines;
• solar hot water;
• enhanced building envelope;
• enhanced efficiency HVAC systems and heat recovery;
• rainwater filtration and recovery.
