A naval munitions bunker of World War II in Australia has been redesigned and converted into a solar-powered classroom.
The bunker is close to Homebush Bay in western Sydney and has been equipped with solar panels and computers that will eventually help in teaching school students about renewable energy. However the bunker’s original features like light rail tracks and cranes which were used for lifting explosives on to trains during the war have all been preserved.
The bunker was used as a Royal Australian Navy armament depot for more than 100 years till 1999 and it is believed that it would have been built somewhere around 1939 or 1942.
The Sydney Olympic Park Authority and EnergyAustralia joined forces to revive the heritage-listed building as the classroom set in a historic way will give a unique chance to school students in learning about renewable energies.
The General Manager Retail at EnergyAustralia, Tim O’Grady said:
In the face of environmental challenges like climate change, we all need to find ways to be more sustainable. We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves and the next generation about the solutions to climate change, and renewable energy is a key part of that solution.
On its very first day, June 4, students from two local schools attended the classroom and took part in experiments, field activities and online learning programs to test the new set up. The new classroom would help school students to study solar, wind, hydro, thermal, biomass energy and carry out computer-based research.
Source: Abc