А1 installs solar panels for Belarusian ‘Green Schools’

А1 has installed a solar panel at the Republican Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children. This is the first set of special devices that will appear in the near future in another six Belarusian educational establishments, i.e. winners of eco contest ‘Solar Energy for Green Schools’.

The jury selected seven winners – one in every region and one in Minsk who have outscored others in their experience in ecologic and eco-social programs, activities and projects. A1 awards the winners with a set of special equipment that converts solar energy into electricity and can be used for practical demonstration of solar activity to the schoolers.

“Ecology and environmental protection just like aid to children are key focus areas of our corporate social responsibility. That is why we are very happy to raise ecologic awareness, via installation of solar panels show real cases to our children how to utilize natural resources and the reasons we need to be conscious about them”, - noted Nikolai Yushkevich, first deputy general director.

Educational establishments recognized as the laureates of special diplomas ‘Green School’ took part in the eco contest organized under support of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.

“We need to foster love for nature and at the same time responsibility for conscious use of natural resources from an early age. That is why such a present for educational institutions will not only emphasize benefits of solar energy but also in general will help the schoolers learn how to handle environmental information. Thanks to such activities there will be more and more nature enthusiasts”, – Tatiana Kononchyk, head of the main department of environmental policy, international cooperation and science of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection expressed her confidence.

Inmates of the Republican Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children where the first panel has been installed already attend classes and watch how technologic novelty operates and functions. Solar panel is connected with a street lamp next to the building that automatically turns on when it gets dark and turns off once it gets light. It’s powered by the energy accumulated during the day that is why in good weather battery charges a reserve capacity for the time when the sun hides behind the clouds. The lamp can be operated manually too.

Besides Republican Rehabilitation Centre for Handicapped Children solar panels are planned to be installed till year end in Kobryn rayon ecology, tourism and local history centre (Brest oblast), secondary school №16 in Orsha (Vitebsk oblast), Utevskaya secondary school of Dobrushsky rayon (Gomel oblast), Smorgon gymnasium (Grodno oblast), Borisov centre for ecology and tourism (Minsk oblast) and secondary school №3 in Osypovichy (Mogilev oblast).