Solar Helping Australian National University Reduce their Carbon Emissions
The Australian National University will reduce its carbon emissions by a further 19 tonnes per year thanks to new solar panels installed on the rooftop of the University’s Student Concessions Building.
Launched today by Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, the photovoltaic (PV) array of 60 solar panels, with 14 kilowatts capacity, will feed over 21,000 kilowatt hours of green energy into the ANU electricity grid each year – the equivalent annual energy needs of five average Canberra households.
The installation of the PV array is a joint project between the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations and Communities and ANU. Deputy Manager of ANUgreen, the University’s sustainability program, Dr Su Wild River said the solar panels’ installation demonstrated the University’s ongoing commitment to environmental issues.
“ANU is a leader in climate change education, teaching and research,” said Dr Wild River. “The University has a dual role in offering world-class education in environmental issues and using the campus as a classroom to display best-practice sustainability initiatives to students, staff and the wider community.
“Through initiatives like this ANU is constantly investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, as well as water saving initiatives.
“As a community of over 14,000 people the individual actions of ANU staff and students make a big difference when it comes to the ensuring a greener and more sustainable future.”
ANUSA President Ms Leah Ginnivan said that ANU students were committed to environmental sustainability.
“The project began with an honours thesis by engineering student Richard Thomas, who studied the viability of making the ANU Students’ Association carbon neutral in 2009,” said Ms Ginnivan.
“Being visible from every corner of Union Court, the PV array provides a highly visible piece of sustainability infrastructure which brings climate change issues to the centre of community consciousness.
“The money spent will not only help ANUSA and other tenants in the Concessions Building save thousands of dollars on electricity costs each year, but sends out a strong message about climate change. We are really proud to see the project come together. It is a great example of how we can all together work to reduce our carbon footprint.”
The installation of the new solar panels is part of the ANU Education Precincts for the Future project and is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Green Precincts Fund.
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