Australia Wide Solar - National Solar Program launched

The biggest news this month is the launch of the National Solar Program. The program offers a grant up to $50,000 on sustainable additions to all schools. This can be used for solar power systems, solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks and passive solar innovations such as skylights, lighting upgrades and other energy efficient measures.

Australia Wide Solar has been active this month in discussions with many schools on how best to benefit from this grant. One school has pioneered the move towards a sustainable future. Last year, the Principal, John Goh, worked tirelessly, mostly in his own time, to organise many sustainable features for his school, Merrylands East Public School in Sydney's western surburbs.

The Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong, visited the school this month and was full of praise for the environmentally friendly initiatives. There are now four rainwater tanks which provide water for the toilet block and irrigate the school grounds - which were a 'dust bowl'. There is a Japanese Garden, a vegie patch and a large solar power system. This solar power system was designed and installed by Australia Wide Solar and has 27 modules which generate 17.4 kWatts of electricity per day.

We plan to install another nine modules onto the system when the school obtains further funding. Australia Wide Solar general manager, John Harrison, says that apart from the normal savings to the electricity bill, a school solar system will generate many more credits during the weekends and school holidays that will be sold back to the grid to provide more energy savings.

Senator Wong said, "To tackle climate change effectively, we need to reduce the amount of carbon pollution we create by using alternative sources of power and it is inspiring to see schools like Merrylands East take up these challenges. I encourage other schools around Australia to follow this example."

If you would like to find out more about the National Solar Schools Program please contact us. We can design and install a solar power system at your local school and help children learn about how to plan a sustainable future.