NOTE:

Please sign with a personal email, as the school emails don't work with this website. Afterwards, check your inbox for a confirmation email and click on it. If you don't click on this confirmation email, your vote will not count.

As you all know, climate change is a serious issue in the world today. As such, bringing one's carbon footprint down is crucial to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases sent up in the Earth's atmosphere. Moreover, with inflation in Europe causing energy prices to skyrocket, it would be financially advantageous for St. John's International School to produce its own electricity, and therefore be able to save up money, which could potentially be used to invest in other sectors of the school.

For an entire decade, people from St. John's International School, including myself, have tried getting solar panels on the school roofs in hopes of bringing the school's carbon footprint down, in vain.

As President of Green Gust, it is my duty to make the school "greener" for both the sake of the school community, but also as a contribution to a much wider community — every living being on Earth. A year ago, I suggested to our Head of School a viable plan to get solar panels at St. John's. Electrical contractors in Belgium, such as Engie, offer a solution to the biggest issue with getting solar panels: the price. As described on Engie's website, Sun4Business (a program created by Engie and ORKA) is for companies (the school in this case) "that want to use green power without investing themselves." To sum up, the school can get solar panels for free. 

For 10 years, Engie would be the owners of the solar panels, but in return, the school would be able to lower its energy bill, until it stops paying energy bills altogether by the end of those 10 years. After 10 years, the school will become the owner of these solar panels.

We have the goodwill of everyone I have spoken to, including the Head of School.  Approval at the Inspired Group level is still pending due to consideration around infrastructure and insurances.  To help raise the urgency with which these matters are being considered, I encourage you to sign this petition which I will present to the Head of School and the Inspired Group.  Your voice is important and declaring this matters to you can help to make a difference!  As I said, this matter has waited 10 years and cannot wait any longer!

Here is the link to Sun4Business should you want to learn more about it: https://www.engie.be/en/business/sustainable-management/self-production/solar-panels/sun4business/