Solar panels capture big dollar savings in the hills

More than 1,000 solar panels have been installed on Council facilities throughout the hills townships, delivering annual savings of more than $82,000 on energy bills.

Council’s Carbon Management Program, now in its sixth year, is working to meet Council‘s 2020 emission reduction target.

A range of energy efficiency and solar projects delivered so far have resulted in greenhouse emissions declining across all Council operations every year for the past four years. 

More than 4,000 solar panels will be installed throughout Yarra Ranges under the program by the end of June 2019.

So far, Council has installed more than 2,800 panels on 29 buildings, generating and estimated $225,000 in electricity bill savings per year and reducing annual greenhouse emissions by 1,277 tonnes (t-CO2e).

The solar panels installed across Council facilities so far could power about 160 average homes in the hills for a whole year.

Cr Noel Cliff said investing in solar panels provided homes and businesses with the opportunity to save money on electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint.

“Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre will have saved more than $27,000 after 351 panels were installed in November 2017,” Cr Cliff said.

Cr Cliff said that $176,465 and 490 t-CO2e had been saved across the whole municipality last financial year.

To help others in the community reap these benefits, Council is offering Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUAs) to businesses that own or lease commercial, non-residential buildings in Yarra Ranges. EUAs are a good way for building owners to fund building upgrades that have positive environmental outcomes such as reducing energy use.

Commercial tenants can also benefit from EUAs by contributing to the repayment of the loan in return for the savings they receive from the upgrade works. EUAs are managed by the Sustainable Melbourne Fund.

Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF) is a long term, fixed interest, competitive loan to upgrade a building where the loan repayments are paid to the lender via Council’s quarterly rates notice.

To find out more about securing EUF for a business, visit the Sustainable Melbourne Fund website.

Sherbrooke Family and Children’s Centre Upwey – 351 panels, 155 t-CO2e, $27,318

Belgrave Library – 228 panels, 102 t-CO2e, $17,925

Belgrave Pool – 88 panels, 39 t-CO2e, $6,899

Olinda Pool - Main Pool – 37 panels, 16 t-CO2e, $2,759

Burrinja Cultural Centre Upwey – 242 panels, 101 t-CO2e, $16,328

Monbulk Living and Learning Centre – 111 panels, 47 t-CO2e, $8,278

Olinda Community House – 19 panels, 8 t-CO2e, $1,388

Karwarra Gardens Kalorama – 19 panels, 8 t-CO2e, $1,380