Toronto (May 1, 2008) - Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. announced today that a team from Winnipeg will represent Canada in Sweden at the Volvo Adventure finals, an international initiative for students to identify and solve local environmental problems. The Sustainable Development Committee of Vincent Massey Collegiate has drafted and begun enacting a plan to reduce the energy required to power and heat their school.
The team of students will depart for Göteborg, Sweden May 8 to present their project "Energetic Energy Education" to judges from Volvo Car Corporation and the United Nations and an audience of international peers. The group is composed of leaders Ken Corley and Sherrill Winstanley, and members Annalise Erkelens Hagere Selam Zegeye-Gebrehiwot, Gladys Ka-Dic Yeung, Erin Collins, Mikhail Peter Kozub, and Victor Toan Le.
Motivated to find ways to demonstrate the viability of alternative energy, the Sustainable Development Committee of Vincent Massey Collegiate decided to focus on their school. Their Energetic Energy Education project involves a four-stage plan to reduce their school's energy consumption. In 2006 the team drafted a plan to purchase and integrate a wind turbine and solar cells into the school's power grid, to install a green roof to reduce heating costs and to construct a greenhouse to grow food. The group plans to provide the school's cafeteria with vegetables and to donate the rest to a nearby mission for the homeless. The team also plans to use biodegradable waste as compost to help replenish the soil in the greenhouse.
"We have completed our research and have begun the first stage of our plan," says team leader Ken Corley. "We have raised $22,000 through grants and fund-raising efforts to buy a small-scale wind turbine last fall. We believe the turbine will cut the school's energy bill by $2,000 to $3,000 annually."
Corley adds: "The students have done a fantastic job. It's great to see them concerned about the environment and putting plans into motion to protect it."
The group also have plans to reach out to other schools and businesses to help them create sustainable energy plans. The team will focus their attention on older buildings which often have a greater need to be updated to modern environmental standards.
"We have worked extremely hard on this project," says team member Mikhail Kozub. "It's gratifying to know that our efforts to create a sustainable future are getting this international attention."
Volvo Adventure is an environmental problem-solving program for adolescents created by Volvo Car Corporation in partnership with the United Nations. The Volvo Adventure encourages 13 to 16 year olds to plan and execute environmental protection efforts in their local community. The projects are submitted online and one team from each participating country is awarded an all expenses paid trip to Sweden to present their project to a panel of judges. Prizes are awarded to the top three international groups; first prize is $10,000, second and third prizes are $6,000 and $4,000 respectively, all USD.
"I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone involved in Energetic Energy Education for being selected to represent Canada," says Jeff Pugliese, President and CEO of Volvo Canada. "Energy conservation is a topic we should all pay close attention to. I wish them the best of luck with their presentation in Sweden."
Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. is part of the Volvo Car Corporation of Göteborg, Sweden. The company provides marketing, sales, parts, service, technology and training support to the 42 Volvo automobile retailers across the country. The company's product range includes the stylish and sporty C30, the elegant C70 hardtop convertible, the compact S40 sedan, the S60 sport sedan, the S80 flagship sedan, the versatile V50 wagon and the award-winning XC90 sport utility vehicle. For 2008, the company is introducing two all-new models: the redesigned V70 wagon and the rugged and comfortable XC70.
- 30 -
Contact:
Chad Heard
Senior Consultant
Marshall Fenn Communications
Office: 416-962-3366 x267
Mobile: 416-451-3204
E-mail: chadh@marshall-fenn.com
Erin Farquharson
Account Coordinator
Marshall Fenn Communications
Office: 416-962-3366 x254
E-mail: erinf@marshall-fenn.com
