School students learn to do environmental audits

Students at eleven schools in Nova Scotia are participating in the pilot phase of a program to conduct environmental audits in their school.

This is a great way for kids to learn about conservation,” said Nova Scotia energy Minister Ernest Fage when the “Destination Conservation” progam was announced in January.
The Grade 8 students from schools along the province’s South Shore are trained to examine lighting, insulation, heating and water systems. By identifying areas for improvement and calculating savings, they learn how to reduce their environmental impact. They are expected to see a six to seven per cent reduction in utility costs during the first year.

In the second year, technical retrofits will be completed by an industry partner, saving an additional 20-30 per cent in utility costs.