Solar comes to Kristin

Solar comes to Kristin & the sun is shining!

Progress; it is unsurprising that Kristin focuses heavily on this, as it is the mainstay of our motto. This is none more so than in the area of environmental awareness. Our ‘Progress with Vision’

means that as a school, we are consistently improving our programmes and creating new initiatives to ensure we are at the forefront of the ‘green schools’ revolution.

One such example of this is the recently installed solar panels on the Wellness Centre and Auditorium buildings. These panels are designed to produce over 35,000kW every year, enough to power four average Auckland households!

To find out more about this initiative, we interviewed Maggie Twaddle, International Solar Schools Programme Manager. As a former Kristin Junior School Principal, she is in a unique position to understand the benefits of this installation for our school.

She believes that installing solar panels in a school such as Kristin has many benefits, both financial and educational. The chances of our children having solar panels on their future homes or businesses are very high, and early exposure to this technology can ensure that they can get the best use out of these installations. In 1927, our forefathers installed hydropower. She believes it is our role to continue this tradition of innovation and eventually make New Zealand 100% renewable. There are many financial benefits to this as well. Most electricity in schools is consumed during daylight hours, and current solar panel technology is guaranteed to last at least 25 years. They are proven technology, a practical choice for schools which are unlikely to cease functioning in the near future.

But where to next? Currently, we have 25.2kW of solar panels installed, the biggest solar array on an independent school in New Zealand. However, this is only the start. Being energy efficient is a life skill, and Kristin hopes to use this technology as a learning experience for our students. ‘Future ready’ means more than just personal development; exposure to initiatives such as solar power gives students real-world experience and understandings that will be invaluable in their future lives.