After the success of the first system installed on their Pakenham and Berwick campuses, Beaconhills College approached EnviroGroup to install a second, larger system on their Berwick campus.
The first two systems installed delivered $55,000 in savings on the College’s power bill just nine months and featured an expected four and a half year payback period.
These savings, combined with the fact that the system supported College’s commitment to be leaders in sustainability and environmental stewardship lead them to go ahead on the second system.
As well solar PV the school has initiated the following sustainability initiatives:
- Ambitious targets under College’s Environmental and Sustainability Plan to cut energy consumption which produces carbon emission
- ‘Three bin’ waste recycling system throughout student and staff areas
- Online monitoring of water use and ‘tank to toilet’ water systems
- Six vegetable gardens across the College, including indigenous foods garden
- Worm farms which dispose of 250 kg of organic waste from across the school each week
- Student lead environment groups, such as the Middle School’s ‘Beacon Growlers’ club, which works to create a habitat for the endangered local ‘Growling Grass Frog’.
With the successful installation of the first system under our belts, the new array at Beaconhills was a straightforward install for the team. Despite it’s size, the system was installed and commissioned over the school holidays with no interruption to classes or student activities.
As with many schools, the site had excellent access and storage for both equipment and wiring. The large, low roofs of the College are perfectly suited for solar PV. The system will generate over 263,000 kWh per annum in energy and offset over 323 tonnes of carbon per year. This carbon offset equates to over 76 cars removed off the road each year.
The College is looking forward to saving even more power from it new system and reinforcing its position as sustainability leaders in the community.
