In an effort to use clean energy, seven new schools in Iran have solar panels installed, according to a Ministry of Education spokesperson.
The provinces where the schools are located are Golestan, Qom, South Khorasan, Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad, East Azerbaijan, and Isfahan. IRIB cited Khanmohammadi Hamid-Reza as saying.
He said that nine more schools will soon have rooftop solar panels installed.
“The installation of photovoltaic panels will lower school expenses and provide reliable revenue,” Hamid-Reza stated.
He emphasised that it will also raise students’ understanding and assist them in learning about the financial advantages of embracing sustainable energy.
According to the official, the Ministry of Education intends to carry out over 2,500 additional projects, and solar energy will soon be available in about 20,000 schools.
There are currently 56 solar power projects in operation throughout the nation, and 11 schools in Qom are prepared to install 220 kilowatt solar panels.
The official continued by stating that, with the assistance of school-building sponsors, the Ministry of Education intends to put solar panels in all newly constructed schools.
According to Khanmohammadi, solar panels can save around 0.27 cubic metres of natural gas and 0.22 litres of water in addition to preventing the release of 560 grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour.
More Green Schools To Come
The director of the Organisation said, “Green management entails lowering energy, water, raw materials, equipment, and paper usage, as well as recycling solid waste,” according to Mehr news agency, even if he called environmental issues crucial.
He emphasised that all non-governmental public organisations and institutions must adopt the green management programme in accordance with the sixth five-year development plan (2017–2021).
“Among the other programmes of the Organisation for Development, Renovation, and Equipping Schools in line with the preservation of the environment are signing a memorandum of understanding with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organisation (SATBA) and the association of school-building benefactors of the country to establish small-scale solar power plants in schools with the investment of donors, holding training courses on waste management in schools, and organising scientific field trips to recycling centres,” Khanmohammadi stated further.
First Green School
To encourage energy management in the educational sector, the city of Zanjan hosted the nation’s first school with 0% energy waste in November 2022.
“The provincial Organisation for Development, Renovation, and Equipping Schools has erected solar panels to generate and distribute 10 kilowatts of electricity in Zanjan city, which is the country’s first green school,” stated Hamidreza Eslami.
He continued, “One of the amenities employed in this school is the surface water treatment and recycling system. In fact, precipitation and rainfall will be collected in tanks to be recycled.”
In addition to the development of a green roof garden, Eslami mentioned that this school’s ventilation systems, smart heating systems, and fire alarm systems are some of its other distinctive features.
Plans For The Environment
According to Alireza Noormohammadi, a Department of Environment official, 55 environmental plans totalling more than 6.78 trillion rials were approved to be implemented nationwide during President Ebrahim Raisi’s first round of provincial visits, which concluded in April 2024. IRNA cited this information.
He continued by saying that the provinces with the greatest number of authorised plans are Mazandaran, Alborz, North Khorasan, and East Azarbaijan, in that order.
President Ebrahim Raisi has emphasised the value of environmental conservation and the idea that environmental preservation comes before all growth.
He declared, “Power, security, investment, and production growth in the country will result from environmental conservation.”