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Solar Power in Trout River School

Jakeman All Grade School in Trout River, Western Newfoundland, installed two solar panels in September 2012.

Solar Power in Trout River School

Jakeman All Grade School in Trout River, Western Newfoundland, installed two solar panels in September 2012. These aren't your typical solar panels; these panels are made using aluminum soft drink cans by a company from our province called CanSolair, which is located in Spaniard's Bay, NL.

Most solar power is produced by converting sunlight into electricity, but CanSolair panels are different because they are made from recycled pop cans and are specifically designed to capture energy from the sun and generate heat.

The solar panels were installed in the school to help reduce heating costs in the 60-year-old building. In the first three months since they were installed, along with new windows and vinyl siding, energy costs in the school decreased by 8%.

The solar panels also generated a lot of excitement among the students in the school, who were already huge proponents of recycling. The panels demonstrate how recyclable materials can be used in innovative ways, while also educating them about how renewable energy works. The picture above shows students standing outside the school in front of the solar panels.

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