Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - State Junior High School (SMPN) 11 Banjarbaru in Banjarbary City, South Kalimantan Province, has created an automatic plant watering app based on Android and solar-powered electric panels.
"The electric panel and application were thanks to collaboration with Banjarmasin Polytechnic and PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Syamsudin Noor, so we appreciate the role of both," said Banjarbaru Mayor Muhammad Aditya Mufti Ariffin when launching the two creation on Monday (Dec 23, 2024).
Aditya hopes that other schools can adopt the two innovations of SMPN 11 Banjarbaru to support environmental sustainability and technological development in the education.
The increasingly developed development of information technology has proven that Banjarbaru is an education city in South Kalimantan.
Principal of SMPN 11 Said Fahmi said that the development of solar electric panel was supported by PT Pertamina Patra Niaga's CSR in the form of solar panels with a capacity of 3,000 Watts.
"Solar panels will be used to supply electricity in the school, especially during power outage at night. Besides to reduce school expenses for PLN electricity cost," he said.
When using solar panels, SMPN 11 Banjarbaru is able to reduce operational cost by 25 percent. The school costs IDR3 million to 4 million per month for regular electricity.
Fahmi admits that solar panels are not yet able to cover all school electricity needs, but are positive step towards new and renewable energy efficiency.
"Even though the construction of solar panels did not involve students directly, (they) are taught how to produce solar energy into electrical energy for everyday life," he said.
Providing solar panels, he said, is an important step to introduce students to the latest technology which is integrated with technology learning such as robotics and coding at school.
"This collaboration educates students about the importance of technology and innovation in the 21st century, so we hope to become pioneers in the development of technology-based education in Banjarbaru," he said.
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