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In The Maldives, we make most of our electricity by burning fossil fuels.
Supplies of these fuels are limited. Someday, we could use them up.
But there's another source of energy that doesn't polute and will never run out.
The sun.
Billabong High is now one of the only schools in The Maldives to make use of this source of energy.
With 301 solar panels covering the greater part of the school's roof,
solar energy provides enough electricity to meet more than 50% of the school's energy demand at peak consumption times.
Meet the man who inspired Billabong to take on renewable resources.
A man who was a teacher at Billabong when the school was first opened.
Mr. Odon Sanchez.
It all started when I first discovered the 'solar impulse' project on the internet.
I really liked the idea of a solar airplane that works with no fuel at all, day and night,
but they need some people to help them.
So I decided to become a sponsor.
I remember thinking this would be something that my Maldivian students would love to participate in.
Once I came back to The Maldives, I decided to share this project with my Maldivian students at Billabong.
They liked the project so much that they also became sponsors.
A few weeks after we became sponsors, the solar impulse team decided to contact us.
They were so touched by us participating in the project and us becoming sponsors that they
decided to give us back the money with the condition that we would use that money for some kind of project,
green project, here at this school.
That's when we decided to try and install solar panels.
After many months of trying, we finally managed to get an agreement signed
and many months later, we got the solar panels installed.
This project is something that makes us very proud,
because we are contributing to make this place not only a green school,
but also a green country.
My favourite change in the school was that the students' opinions get more valued during the years.
We are on the rooftop of Billabong High International School right now.
These are the solar panels,
and this is one of the most important steps in The Maldives in becoming a carbon-neutral,
independent, and
self sustainable community.