Green School
The School cherishes an ideological commitment to promote ecological literacy and environmental ethics. Accordingly, the School building is modelled on a concept of ‘Green School’, integrated with energy-efficient and eco-friendly technologies.
Ventilation & Lighting
Classrooms and laboratories have all been arranged to allow plenty of natural light and the clear flow of fresh air, thus allowing a minimum use of electricity. This has been achieved by the innovative use of "light shelves" which act as both sunshades and also light reflectors, sending natural light deep into the rooms. Concrete "grills" provide an attractive screen for safety and protection as the children move along the well-ventilated corridors.
Solar Fencing
The school has solar powered electric fencing for security. Our system is a modern day green alternative to the conventional methods of fencing.
Solar Street Lighting
The long driveway leading up to the Administration Block, as well as other parts of the School, are lined with street lights powered by solar energy.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater Harvesting is the process of collecting and storing of rainwater to help increase the level of groundwater. Rainwater is being harvested and the use of soak pits allows all the rainwater that lands on the site to stay on the site. Most of the water that we use is recycled in filter beds and drip irrigation for the garden. The School is fortunate to have an ample supply of fresh, sweet water on its grounds and this system is designed to preserve it by recharging the groundwater.
Grey Water Recycling for Gardening
Grey Water is the waste water generated from hand wash basins and urinals. The school has a system in place that reuses this water for garden irrigation. This water provides nutrients to the plants and the soil and also helps reduce our consumption of ground water.
Gardens
In keeping with the concept of a Green School, we have taken care to create an environment which is well planted with a variety of shrubs and trees. The juniors on the ground floor, for instance, can enjoy individual outdoor spaces for each classroom, where they may grow their own plants or explore the natural environment on their own doorstep.
Organic Farming
0.6 acres of land is used to practice organic farming of rice and vegetables. Organic farming is the form of agriculture where chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers are not used. Instead only organic and natural pesticides are used. All students are taught the importance of organic farming and its practices for sustainable living and a healthy planet. This farm is used in many science projects so students get a hands-on experience in learning. The rice crop is used to feed the birds of our gardens and the vegetables are shared among the teachers.
Drip Irrigation
Drip irrigation is a system of small plastic pipes fitted with outlets that drip water close to plants’ roots so that only the roots are moistened. This uses less volume of water to feed our lush expansive gardens in our drought prone area.
Vermiculture
Vermiculture is the process of composting biodegradable wastes (waste from school lunches, waste paper, leaves and grass clippings) using earthworms. The worm casting (excrement) is an excellent nutrient-rich organic fertiliser and soil conditioner. Our school has a large shed with four soil beds where the worms are fed. The rich compost that is generated is used to fertilise our gardens. The children participate in this process through their recycling of wastes and learning green sustainable practices.
Recycling of Waste
The children are taught to separate their wastes into inorganic and organic wastes. The organic wastes are used in our vermiculture unit thereby reducing the volume of waste that our school generates. The school greatly emphasises the use of rubbish bins rather than littering.
Bee Keeping
Bees are essential for the pollinating of plants. Bee keeping teaches children about the inter-connectedness of life and demonstrates harmonious living. We have six working hives which the children learn to care for. They enjoy this immensely. The pure raw honey that is produced is shared by the teachers.
Birds in our Garden
Geese,Guinea Fowl and Chickes co-exist in harmony in our school gardens. Our children enjoy watching them and learning to care for their needs.
Reducing our Carbon Footprint
A Carbon Footprint is the total of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organisation, product or person. These emissions are harmful to our planet. We at Saibaba Central School strive to reduce our footprint by practising eco-friendly technologies as described above.
To learn more about our ‘Green School’, please read this interesting article written by our school architect, Mr. Christopher Burgess.
Article by the school's architect on Green School
The years seem to pass quickly by and already here we are in 2008-09. What a great year, too, as this is the Jubilee year of the founding of our wonderful school by Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji in 1983.
For 25 years the school has been steadily progressing and delivering to the children of Ongole a fine standard of all-round education. The school quickly gained a reputation for its academic achievements and also its caring and loving attitude towards its pupils. Three years ago, the school moved into new premises which brought many new possibilities for the facilities it could provide. Since then, with the combination of the increased facilities and the maintenance of the loving, personal approach, the school’s achievements and reputation have forged ahead.
Now the school has taken a quantum leap in its development, as the new specially designed campus has been completed. It is by a happy chance that this is also the Jubilee year – what a fitting way to celebrate the coming of age of our happy school!
The new campus is filled with innovative ideas and features which will fuel the drive towards the fulfilment of the vision that Sri Babuji has for the school. The structure is at once impressive and grand in its appearance, from the long tree-lined avenue and gardens at its entrance, up to the soaring columns of the Administration Block. Once through the gates and past the unique electronic security system, the children will experience an environment where learning and play can both be enjoyed in a happy and safe compound.
From the beginning, one will notice the emphasis on spaciousness and the maximisation of light and air. Classrooms and laboratories are all arranged to allow plenty of natural light and the clear flow of fresh air, thus allowing a minimum use of electricity. This is achieved by the innovative use of "light shelves" which act as both sunshades and also light reflectors sending natural light deep into the rooms. Concrete "grilles" provide an attractive screen for safety and protection as the children move along the well-ventilated corridors.
In keeping with the concept of a Green School, we have taken care to create an environment which is well planted with a variety of shrubs and trees. The juniors on the ground floor, for instance, can enjoy individual outdoor spaces for each classroom, where they may grow their own plants or explore the natural environment on their own doorstep.
Supporting this concept, several energy conservation techniques are used to reduce power consumption, including the use of energy efficient lighting and low energy fans. In addition, we are using earth air tunnels in the Administration Block. This is a system in which pipes are laid deep underground to cool the air as it passes through them; solar chimneys mounted on the roof draw the stale warm air out, thus providing environmentally sound "air-conditioning".
Rainwater will be harvested and the use of soak pits will allow all the rainwater that lands on the site to stay on the site. Most of the water that we use will be recycled by the use of filter beds for the garden planting. The new school is fortunate to have an ample supply of fresh, sweet water which this system, by recharging the groundwater, is designed to maintain.
Care has been taken to ensure that the technological specifications of the school are "up to the minute" with all classrooms being computer linked to a main server room, video monitoring all round, and provision for LCD projectors. Facilities include spacious laboratories for all disciplines as well as a large Library, a Dance Practice Hall, Art and Music Rooms, two Computer Labs, and an air conditioned Multimedia Hall. Together with all this, new sports fields are being developed for a variety of outdoor games and juniors will have their own protected well-planned playground. And this is just the beginning. With the space available on our new site, many new ideas will be brought to fruition in the future, giving us the opportunity to provide a school like no other.
-- Christopher Burgess
Solar Power
As a green initiative, the school has set up a 50KW solar plant on the roof. The school is self-sufficient for electricity.