A group of high school students is looking for partners interested in financing the purchase and installation of solar panels and geothermal technology in Jasper’s new high school, which is set to begin construction this spring.

The students’ ultimate goal is to have the first net-zero school in Canada.

In a presentation to council on Feb. 7, four students from the Jasper Sustainability Club for Youth requested that council become a private partner in the project.

The club, which has been involved in the school project since the beginning, requested that the school be built with alternative energy sources, but the province said no.

“We were told that going net-zero would cost too much,” Jasmine Payant told council last week, noting that although the technology won’t be there, the conceptual design for the school does include the necessary hookups and infrastructure to add geothermal and solar energy in the future. 

“As of now, a net-zero energy school is within our reach,” said Payant. “We’re here to ask you for your support.”

“We recognize that creating a partner alliance to bridge this funding gap would be the most effective way to actually realize our vision and this is why we’re presenting this opportunity to you today,” continued Anagha Devkota.

Council agreed to write a letter of support for the students to show to other private partners, but didn’t commit to helping finance the project, as there are still too many unknowns.

Murray Ostrander, a geotechnical engineer and a parent representative on the school committee, said it will cost approximately $650,000 to purchase and install both energy systems.

The idea is to pay back private partners who finance the project with the money saved on utilities. That model depends, though, on the provincial government agreeing to give the money that would otherwise be used for utilities, to the school for the purpose of paying back their partners.

“That’s a significant hurdle to overcome,” said Adam Robb, who teaches the Jasper Junior/Senior High School’s sustainability class.

Ostrander said with the numbers he’s received from the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division on what the estimated energy use for the school is, the pay-back period could be as short as 10 years, if the province were to continue funding those energy levels in the future.

When asked why the government wouldn’t consider doing this itself, Ostrander said it’s because of the 10-year pay-back period.

“They look three to five years for pay-back, max. Anything beyond that they won’t consider. That’s their policy right now,” he said.

Mayor Richard Ireland asked that the club provide council with projections that show the 10-year pay-back.

“That certainly would help us advance a position with the province on your behalf or on our own behalf if it’s us fronting the money,” he said.

Alberta Education announced in May of 2011 that Jasper would be one of 35 schools to be built or renovated across the province.

The new building will be shared by the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) and Conseil Scolaire Centre-Nord (CSCN).

Residents of Jasper, including the sustainability club, have been vocal about their desire to have a sustainable school. At a public meeting in October, community members suggested that it be a living building with extensive green space and natural light. It was also requested that the design meet LEED Gold standards rather than LEED Silver, the minimum required by the government for schools.

The school design was approved, in principle, by the GYPSD last month and was put on display at the Jasper Activity Centre on Jan. 30.

The new building includes a green roof, the hookups for a geothermal exchange system and a roof structured to hold solar panels. All of those features are unique to Jasper.

With the design complete and approved in principle, technical drawings will now be completed, so that the project can go to tender.

To see the floor plan for the new school, visit www.gypsd.com and click “Jasper High School Build” in the left-hand column of the main page.