Renewable energy agreement powers savings

Council is making substantial cost and emissions savings by powering its municipal offices, community buildings, leisure centres and sports grounds with 100 per cent renewable energy.

Maroondah is one of 51 councils to have switched to renewable energy through the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO), which enables Councils to source clean renewable energy generated from Victorian wind farms.

In the first year of joining VECO, Maroondah and fellow VECO Councils have collectively saved $2.6 million in energy costs, while local carbon emissions have been cut by around 5900 tonnes. Not only does this benefit the environment, but it means savings can be redirected to other Council services and programs.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Rob Steane, said the partnership has led to positive outcomes.

“Council has been achieving some excellent progress in sustainability through our work with the Victorian Energy Collaboration, and we are proud that Maroondah has been certified as one of only 10 carbon neutral Councils in Australia,” Cr Steane said.

“As part of Council’s clean, green and sustainable vision for the future, our work in this space will continue to make a difference and help future generations access the same opportunities we enjoy today.”

Launched in July 2021, VECO is the largest-ever emissions reduction project undertaken by local government in Australia. The collective investment in Victorian renewables has delivered partnering Councils with cheaper electricity under a 9.5-year deal with supplier Red Energy.

From July 2021, that renewable energy has been used to power Council-owned infrastructure, such as community venues, leisure centres and sports grounds. Through the collective buying of renewable energy, Councils have already saved around 172,000 tonnes of greenhouse emissions – the equivalent of powering up to 35,000 homes or taking 66,000 cars off the road each year.

Maroondah’s VECO investment is not only helping Council to reduce its operating costs, but also ensures we maintain our status as a Carbon Neutral organisation – further helping us to achieve our emissions reduction.

Learn more about the Victorian Energy Collaboration (VECO).

Council is also taking part in the Solar Savers Program through our partnership with the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA). The program supports Maroondah residents, including homeowners, renters and businesses, who would like to install rooftop solar and battery storage, connecting them with technical advice and information about available rebates.

Rooftop solar is great for reducing electricity costs and greenhouse gas emissions, especially if you:

Residents can register for the free Solar Savers information session on Wednesday 14 June to learn more about solar energy and discover whether it is a suitable renewable energy solution for their home.

The session will cover how solar systems work, which properties are most suitable for solar, current government incentives and benefits the system offers.