Solar Street Lights at Bellbird Park Recreation Reserve

Bellbird Park Recreation Reserve will never receive an electricity bill for its car park lights after new solar public lights were installed in September 2010. It’s expected the four lights, which use the latest in LED lighting and solar technology, will save about 3.1 tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution or 3.1 million black balloons each year. The project, including lights and installation, cost about $16,600. While conventional lighting is approximately 25% cheaper to buy and install, solar LED lights like these cost less over the lifetime of the light because there are no ongoing electricity bills. The solar LED lights are connected to a battery which is charged by a solar panel. This results in no ongoing electricity bills. They’re also completely independent from the electricity grid which means if there is a power outage the solar LED lights will still function. The new lights have a lamp life of about 50,000 hours and are glare free. They’re expected to save 78 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the 25-year life of the lights.
 

Solar Power - Drouin Library

A 5kW PV solar power system was installed at the Drouin Library in March 2009. The system, which sits on the Library’s roof top and is visible from the Princes Way, will generate 3,000 Kwh per year – saving over 190,000 black balloons of greenhouse gas each year or equivalent to the savings emissions of 3 cars.

Check out how much energy the system is generating and the amount of greenhouse gasses saved through the Solar Schools interactive website at www.solarschools.net .

Funding for the project came from the Federal Government’s Solar Homes and Communities Plan and Baw Baw Shire Council.
 

Solar Power - Warragul Depot 

Council’s depot on Normanby Street in Warragul also has a 5kW solar panel system. Installed in April 2009, the system is expected to generate 20kW and save 524 black balloons of greenhouse gas per day.

Check out how much energy the system is generating and the amount of greenhouse gasses saved through the Solar Schools website www.solarschools.net
 

Solar Power - 11 Public Facilities

At the start of 2010, 11 public facilities and kindergartens around the shire were fitted with a 1.5kW solar PV system.

Each system is expected to produce around 6kW per day with an annual generation of 24,000kW. At some sites this will mean electricity bills will be halved.

The total cost of the project was approximately $38,200.

Solar systems were installed at: Longwarry Pre-School, Drouin Senior Citizens, Drouin Kindergarten, Drouin Recreation Reserve, Warragul Community Pre-School, Community House in Warragul, Darnum Memorial Hall, Yarragon Public Toilets, Yarragon Community Hall, Erica Pre-School and Rawson Swimming Pool.