Cann River Nursing Home Community Solar Donation
The not-for-profit Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre has received a 3.4kW solar system made possible through East Gippsland Shire Council’s Solar Bulk Buy program. The program offered the opportunity for community organisations to apply to receive a free 3.4kW solar system valued at about $4,000.
The solar donation represented one per cent of total sales achieved as part of the program.
The total system size installed on 27 May 2020 was 10kW, with the bush nursing centre self-funding the difference to upgrade the system to better account for their daily electricity consumption.
Photo: Michael O’Brien (chairperson of the Board) with newly installed solar system above.
"Cann River Bush Nursing Centre was selected on the strength of its application from a field of 31 other local not-for-profits located in the municipality," Mayor Cr John White said.
"The great news is that the bush nursing centre could see the value in upgrading the donation to a 10kW solar system, using $8,000 of its own money, to assist in covering its daytime energy use. It’s anticipated the installation of this solar system will reduce the organisation’s power consumption by about half," Cr White said. "The Bush Nursing Centre provides a vitally important service to the Cann River community, and reduced electricity bills will mean providing that service will be a little easier. Reduced operating costs means the centre can support other essential services."
The donation was made available from Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) and eko energy. Yarra Energy Foundation is the Council’s project partner in the solar bulk buy and eko energy is a Victorian provider of solar and energy storage services that specialises in delivering solar bulk buys to communities.
Council would like to thank the 31 other community organisations who applied, and to take note of councils community small grants which can be accessed to implement simple energy efficient and solar options. Examples might be swapping over to LED lighting, using air-sourced heat pumps for hot water supply linked to solar systems to heat during the day. Time consuming but simple steps such as swapping electricity retailers can yield savings too.
Further information: Wayne Burton, Sustainability Project Planner
