AAF Solarization Project

The Ardenne Energy Conservation & Solarization Project

Every great journey begins with a single step. For the Ardenne Alumni Foundation, that first step was a bold commitment to sustainability, a decision to reduce Ardenne High School’s dependence on the national electricity grid and redirect those savings back into the education of our students.

Proposed in 2012, the Ardenne High Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Solarization Project became the Foundation’s inaugural undertaking, and it set the tone for everything that would follow. Funded through a partnership between the Ardenne Alumni Foundation and Gormann Corporation, the project represented a total investment of JMD $14.15 million and unfolded in phases over three to four years.

The Man Behind the Technology

No account of this project would be complete without recognising the extraordinary contribution of Ardenne alumnus and Foundation member Jennings Gordon. Through his company, Gormann Corporation, specialists in solar and alternative energy systems, Jennings sourced the equipment and managed the installation of the entire solar PV system. His technical expertise, professional networks, and deep love for his alma mater were instrumental in making the project not only possible, but excellent. Jennings exemplified what the Foundation is all about: alumni giving back in the most meaningful way they can.

Corporate Jamaica Answers the Call

In 2014, the Foundation held its first major fundraiser, a banquet that brought together alumni, friends, and the business community in a shared celebration of Ardenne’s legacy and future. Corporate Jamaica responded with tremendous generosity, providing much-needed funds that allowed the project to be completed to its full scope. That evening was a watershed moment, it demonstrated that the Foundation’s mission resonated far beyond the alumni community, and that the wider Jamaican private sector was ready to invest in the future of our students. The support of Corporate Jamaica, alongside contributions from alumni chapters in Jamaica, Florida, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto, made this project a truly national effort.

What We Built

The scope of the project was transformative. Every classroom, corridor, and common area across the entire school had its lighting upgraded to energy-efficient LED technology, an investment of JMD $4.84 million that immediately reduced the school’s electricity consumption. A 30-kilowatt Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system, valued at JMD $9 million, was installed across four buildings:

• A 10 KW system on the Staff Room Block, installed by PCJ
• A 5 KW system on the historic Olson Hall
• A 15 KW system on the Roy Ebanks Block
• A smaller system on the Industrial Arts Building

A solar streetlight, gifted by Gormann Corporation, was also installed at the main entrance to the school, welcoming students and visitors with clean, renewable energy.

The Impact

The results spoke for themselves. The project generated annual savings of approximately 98,000 kilowatt-hours, equivalent to JMD $5 million per year at current electricity rates. Those are funds that stay within the school, available to be invested in the students and teachers of Ardenne.

But the project went beyond infrastructure. It sparked a culture of environmental responsibility throughout the school community. An Energy Committee was formed and has operated continuously since the project’s launch. Staff and parents participated in dedicated energy conservation seminars. An Energy Coordinator role was established. A monitoring programme was developed, and energy efficiency became embedded in the school’s purchasing policy, meaning that when equipment is replaced, sustainability is now the standard, not the exception.

A Legacy Still Growing

Phase 1 of the Ardenne Solarization Project stands as a landmark achievement, but the original vision was always more ambitious. Phase 2, estimated at JMD $18,348,000 in 2014 values, was intended to extend solarization to the Science Block, the Computer Lab, and the Claire Gayle Library. An ongoing phase was also envisaged, encompassing the gradual replacement of older air conditioning units with energy-efficient inverter systems, an energy efficiency purchasing policy for all new equipment, and a water harvesting project for the campus.

These phases have not yet been implemented. The project was paused following the Ministry of Education’s decision to take over the payment of the school’s Jamaica Public Service electricity bill, a development that, while providing short-term financial relief, reduced the immediate urgency to proceed with further solarization investment.

Nonetheless, the Foundation regards this work as unfinished business. The buildings identified for Phase 2 remain without solar coverage, and the broader ambitions of the ongoing phase reduced energy consumption, greater environmental sustainability, and long-term cost savings for the school, remain as relevant and necessary today as when the project was first conceived.

Once it is determined that it is feasible to begin again the Foundation will revisit this project.

What began in 2012 as a vision for a greener, more sustainable Ardenne has become a living legacy, proof that when alumni come together with purpose, the impact is lasting, meaningful, and real.

This is what the Ardenne Alumni Foundation is built on. And this is just the beginning.