Collingwood's St. Mary's Catholic School
To Install Wind Turbine
St. Mary's Catholic School in Collingwood is one of five schools in the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board that will be installing wind turbines this spring as part of the Ministry of Education's Green School Pilot program. In addition, Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School in Honey Harbour, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic School in Parry Sound, Saint Mary's Catholic School in Huntsville and St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Barrie have also been approved for the installation of wind turbines. Because of the northwest prevailing winds from Georgian Bay, the board felt that the selected schools would be best suited to participate in the pilot program.
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board will oversee the installation of three additional wind turbines at schools in the Durham Catholic District School Board. The cost for the wind turbines to be installed at all eight schools is $494,170. The project is part of the Ministry of Education's plan to purchase, test and showcase new and innovative green products and technologies.
The Board will work in partnership with Cleanfield Energy Corporation to install the 3.5 kw units. Each unit will have three vertical blades that are three metres in length and rotate around a central vertical axis. The turbines can be roof or ground mounted and stand approximately eight metres off the ground. The chosen units generate minimal noise.
"There are a number of ways that our schools and Board will benefit from the installation of these wind turbines" said Glenn Clarke, Controller of Plant. "There will be annual cost savings since the turbines can produce enough green energy to power an estimated four classrooms, for each of the five schools. In addition, our students will benefit academically. The system's operations will be integrated into school programs, so that students can learn first-hand how wind energy can benefit society."
