University of Calgary
Solar energy
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A sun-powered weenie-roastFaculty of Environmental Design professor Tang Lee, an internationally-recognized expert in solar buildings and indoor air quality, led the group through TitanWall Inc.’s solar plant as part of this year’s Canada Healthy Schools Day. “It is important to teach kids about the alternative energy sources that are available,” says Lee. “Having students introduced to alternative energy at a young age will prepare them for a future that requires them to solve global issues such as pollution, health, water, food and energy resources.” The field trip included a tour of TitanWall’s solar home and factory as well as a fun demonstration of solar energy usage for cooking hot dogs and heating up, melting or burning objects. Healthy Schools Day began in 2009 when 12 national and provincial organizations met to declare a national day dedicated to school indoor environment issues such as air quality. The purpose of the day is to foster improvements, celebrate successes, and create projects that make indoor environments of new and existing schools the best they can be. Each year, Canadians are encouraged to develop projects to celebrate Healthy Schools Day in Canada and improve school indoor environments. “The tour demonstrated the use of solar energy to reduce air pollution and thus create healthier schools and other buildings,” says Lee. “As we know, burning fossil fuels creates climate change and pollution. A school designed with solar power would not need to burn fossil fuels and thus will be a healthier school.” 
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April 27, 2010