Esther Lauaki
By Esther Lauaki
Community groups will save on expensive power bills now that Wyndham has completed its switch to more sustainable lighting.
Wyndham council has wrapped up its large-scale solar and Lighting the West programs for 2019-20 with the aim of driving down emissions.
Environment and sustainability portfolio holder Heather Marcus said council had installed solar panels on 13 community buildings and replaced the bulbs of almost 1500 street lights with sustainable LED globes this financial year.
“These 13 new solar panel systems will save community groups – including sports groups, kindergartens and childcare operators – $2 million in power bills over their 20-year lifespan,” Cr Marcus said.
“In addition, they will prevent a whopping 443 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere each year.
“As for the 1500 street lights we have replaced with sustainable LEDs, they will reduce council’s carbon emissions by 486 tonnes per year.
“These crucial programs are playing an essential role in helping us reach our long-term goal of being carbon neutral.”
The Lighting the West and Large-Scale Solar programs have been running for five and six years respectively.
The $8.4 million Lighting the West program is mostly funded by council, in addition to $1.5 million in federal funding.
The $3.5 million Large-Scale Solar program is largely funded by a federal government grant, with Wyndham council contributing $400,000.
