Ishan, Grade 10

I think it’s great that ZIS is not just installing solar panels but getting us students involved, too. Our Beyond the Classroom initiative, for example, had us building and installing our own solar panels, then tracking the data they produced. It’s so important to engage students: after all, we’re the ones who are thinking about the future and the bigger picture.

We’ve also learned a lot about how solar energy fits into the bigger picture. It’s very accessible compared to other renewable energies. Hydropower, for example, is not attainable for many organisations, as it requires a lot of space. Solar is perfect for smaller organisations. It will help reduce energy bills, for private citizens and for organisations, and it’s creating a new market for renewables. Around four million jobs were created last year just from solar power. So, it’s helping to grow our economy, too. 

And solar panels are just the beginning for our school’s sustainability journey. There is more to be done at ZIS – around finding greener ways of going to school, for example, and reducing our food waste. But ZIS has shown that it’s willing to take the next step to educate future generations sustainably. It’s not just about the transition to a net zero economy but maintaining that economy in a sustainable manner for generations to come.

Reaching 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030 is a great goal for ZIS, and I think everyone should get involved to raise funds – parents, in particular. After all, you’re investing in your child’s future. At ZIS, the goal is to educate everyone in a responsible and sustainable way. We want to consume responsibly. At the end of the day, it’s just the right thing to do.