06/15/2006
Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Author: Japan for Sustainability
The eighth "Sunshine" photovoltaic (PV) power
plant installed by the Kyoto Green Fund, a non-profit organization, began
operation at Omiya Nursery School in Kyoto City in January 2006. The plant
can supply the nursery school with two-thirds of its annual electricity
consumption, about 15,000 kw.
The Kyoto Green Fund has been introducing environmental education to
local nursery schools and kindergartens by installing "Sunshine" PV power
plants since 2001, with the aim of promoting energy conservation,
electricity savings, and green energy. The organization's philosophy is that
environmental consciousness is best developed not through book knowledge,
but in daily life during early childhood.
Major effects such as changed behavior among the children have been
reported at the nursery schools and kindergartens that have these PV
systems. Some children now turn off the lights, saying, "It's a waste to
leave the light on." An increasing number of children have also begun to
turn off the water when their parents shower, saying, "Don't leave the water
running when it's not necessary."
The organization manages its Sunshine Fund by accepting three kinds of
donations: 1) monthly donations from the organization's members, 2)
donations of about 3,000 yen (about US$25.6) from supporters of each PV
power plant installation project, and 3) donations from boxes placed in
business offices or private homes and collected by fund-raisers. In
addition, the organization receives subsidies from the New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and support from
private entities, such as Lions Clubs, to promote PV power plant
installation.
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