South Shore Education Centre to get a green makeover

Nipissing MPP Monique Smith
News Release

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Students in Nipissing Township now have a cleaner, greener and more energy-efficient place to learn.

Through Ontario’s Green Schools Pilot Initiative schools are able to install new technology to help make them more energy-efficient. The Near North District School Board is piloting a biomass heating system from Viessmann Manufacturing Company Inc. at Nipissing Township’s South Shore Education Centre.

This school is among 150 across the province that have received support through the initiative.

This investment supports Ontario’s efforts to reduce environmental footprints in its publicly funded schools. It is also an important part of the government’s Open Ontario plan to strengthen education, which has already delivered results: smaller class sizes, higher test scores and an improved graduation rate. It also creates local economic benefits and supports a stronger, cleaner, greener economy.

“By using green products and technologies in our schools, we are setting new standards for school energy efficiency while supporting jobs in Ontario’s new green economy,” said Monique Smith, MPP for Nipissing.

“This investment promotes better, greener learning environments and helps teach our students the importance of energy conservation,” said Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Education.

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario has invested $20 million in the Green Schools Pilot Initiative.

• The government has also invested $600 million to help over 1,000 schools become more energy efficient through other green school programs.

• Since 2003, the McGuinty government has invested $5.4 billion through the Good Places to Learn and Energy Efficiency programs.

• In 2009, Ontario announced that over 1,000 schools will become more energy efficient and install renewable energy technologies, creating and sustaining over 5,500 jobs.

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