Prince Edward Island's 1st net-zero school opens its doors to students
CBC
The wait was finally over for students at Sherwood Elementary in Charlottetown as they stepped into their brand-new school on Wednesday morning — the first fully electric, net-zero-ready school in Prince Edward Island.
Construction on the facility began in the summer of 2022 on the same site as the previous aging building, following years of discussions about the need for a replacement.
"This is going to be one of our greatest days. We've been very patiently waiting for this two and a half years and before that, so we're all excited to go in and see what our new learning space looks like," said principal Parker Grimmer.
The new Sherwood Elementary can accommodate up to 650 students and features modern upgrades, including solar panels, diverse learning spaces and new technology.
"The net zero is evident everywhere in the architecture, in all the windows, with lots of light coming in, triple-pane glass," Grimmer said.
"We even have geothermal pumping through the building, and our heat pumps, of course."
There are many other improvements as well, like dedicated locker spaces for different age groups and boot racks for students, the principal noted.
Speaking Wednesday morning, Grimmer said it would be important to take things slow on the first day to ensure a smooth transition.
Staff were going to introduce students to their new learning environment and talk about safety procedures.
The journey to this moment hasn't been easy, the principal said. During the construction period, students had to cope with staggered lunch breaks, limited playground space and temporary classrooms.
"So, lots of sacrifices," he said.
Looking ahead, Grimmer said the school plans to invite members of the public to tour the new facility in the coming weeks.
The old school building will be gradually shut down and eventually demolished, with plans to transform the site into a playground for students.
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