Welland Hydro-Electric System Corp. sparked interest in energy conservation for two Jean Vanier secondary school students.

On top of their regular studies, Samantha Pringle and Catherine Roy worked hard over a semester of their Grade 12 year, putting together an energy conservation plan for their school. Both members of school's environment club, Pringle and Roy spent months doing research and making phone calls to discover the best methods Jean Vanier could put in place to conserve energy. The pair created the plan as part of a program sponsored by Welland Hydro-Electric System Corp., in which high school students compete for the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Scholarship.

Pringle and Roy spent their time researching items such as energy efficient windows, heating systems and roofs, and called around for estimates on all materials to determine the cost of converting to eco-friendly methods. They also contacted the French Catholic school board's director of planning and maintenance, Robert Castel, to get their hands on the school's current hydro bills and blueprints for the new Jean Vanier currently being built on River Rd. Pringle and Roy created a roughly 30-page plan, documenting what the new school should include to save both money and energy. The plans included graphs showing how much energy is currently consumed by the school and how much would be saved if each of the different initiatives, like energy efficient windows, were put in place.

Pringle was surprised by how much energy could be conserved by reinforcing simple rules like shutting off computers when not in use and lights when not in the classroom. Changes to the outdoors can also help to conserve energy, she said, like planting trees on the property. Not only is planting trees good for the environment, but it helps to keep buildings cool during warmer weather. Roy was surprised at how effective some of the conservation methods could be, saving the school a significant amount of money in the long run. A geothermal heating system, although costly to buy and install, would reduce the school's energy use by 60%, she said. "We've seen how much we can do (to conserve energy)," Roy said. "There are so many options out there."

Jean Vanier teacher Michel Montpellier said students were given the option of creating a plan as part of their independent research project. "We live in a time where global warming is a problem. We need to do something about it, so why not start at school," he said. Montpellier said energy conservation methods can be learned at school and then taken and applied at home for everyone's benefit.

The plan was required to reduce energy consumption, lower energy demands and improve the impact the school energy consumption has on the environment. The plan also had to meet a fixed budget of no more than $200,000, and include the impact on both the school and environment if the changes were implemented.

Perry Orosz, director of customer service for Welland Hydro-Electric System Corp., said this is the first year the company has introduced the scholarship program. With the company already involved with local elementary schools, he said staff decided it was time Welland Hydro get involved with high schools as well and the program seemed the perfect opportunity.

Jean Vanier principal Paul Lafontaine said the school jumped on the opportunity to participate after first hearing about the program. "Students are very aware of conservation," he said, adding the timing was a "perfect fit" with the new school currently being built. "It was a no brainer ... (The students) want to get involved and contribute. They know the future depends on what we do now."

The finished plan has been forwarded to Castel at the board, who will look at the suggestions and in turn decide which will be presented to the board for consideration in the new building.

"The timing is excellent for us," Lafontaine said, adding that although the two girls will be gone before the new Jean Vanier is built, they will have left their mark on the school, "contributing to the final product."

Pringle, who is attending Brock University for nursing next year, and Roy, who will study science at the University of Ottawa, each received $1,000 towards their schooling.

Montpellier said the students presented "a very well-done project," bringing a lot of useful ideas to the table.

— Maryanne Firth, Tribune Staff

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