Blacktown Helps Low Income Families Save Energy & Emissions
Release date:
09 October 2007
Sixteen low income families in the Western suburbs of Sydney turned on their new solar electricity systems for the first time today, as part of a Blacktown Solar City initiative that will help residents in social housing save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Every one of the social housing properties in the neat cul-de-sac of Amy Close has been fitted out with a 1 kilowatt (kW) solar electricity system. The solar systems will allow residents to plug into the sun and convert sunlight into household electricity.
On behalf of the Blacktown Solar City consortium, BP Solar’s Regional Director, Brooke Miller said, “Like the 25,000 households across Australia who have already had a solar electricity system installed, it will now be a lot easier for the residents of Amy Close to cut the size of their electricity bills.”
“Summer is just around the corner, the time of year when our electricity bills are often the highest due. The systems at Amy Close have the potential to slash electricity bills for its residents by up to 50%, a saving over summer that would be welcomed by all families, but particularly those with a lower level of income.”
Together with the Department of Housing, the Blacktown Solar City project plans to install 100 solar electricity systems and 100 solar hot water systems over the next three years to directly help families living in community housing. The project will also provide 40 additional 2.5kW solar electricity systems to light the common areas of social housing apartment blocks in the area.
“Making clean, renewable energy more accessible is one of the goals of the Blacktown Solar City project,” said Brooke Miller. “Amy Close is just the beginning.”
The systems installed at Amy Close are the first solar electricity systems to be installed as part of the Blacktown Solar City project, and in fact the first for the entire Australian Government’s $75 million Solar Cities initiative.
On behalf of the Blacktown Solar City consortium, BP Solar’s Regional Director, Brooke Miller said, “Like the 25,000 households across Australia who have already had a solar electricity system installed, it will now be a lot easier for the residents of Amy Close to cut the size of their electricity bills.”
“Summer is just around the corner, the time of year when our electricity bills are often the highest due. The systems at Amy Close have the potential to slash electricity bills for its residents by up to 50%, a saving over summer that would be welcomed by all families, but particularly those with a lower level of income.”
Together with the Department of Housing, the Blacktown Solar City project plans to install 100 solar electricity systems and 100 solar hot water systems over the next three years to directly help families living in community housing. The project will also provide 40 additional 2.5kW solar electricity systems to light the common areas of social housing apartment blocks in the area.
“Making clean, renewable energy more accessible is one of the goals of the Blacktown Solar City project,” said Brooke Miller. “Amy Close is just the beginning.”
The systems installed at Amy Close are the first solar electricity systems to be installed as part of the Blacktown Solar City project, and in fact the first for the entire Australian Government’s $75 million Solar Cities initiative.
The Blacktown Solar City project currently covers 48 suburbs in Western Sydney and the initatives with the Department of Housing will allow low income households to play their part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in addition to reducing their electricity bills.
ENDS
For any inquiries please contact:
Chandran Vigneswaran, BP Solar on 03 9268 3534 or 0410 479 002
ENDS
For any inquiries please contact:
Chandran Vigneswaran, BP Solar on 03 9268 3534 or 0410 479 002
Notes to Editors
Blacktown Solar City- Blacktown Solar City consists of a consortium led by BP Solar and includes Integral Energy, ANZ, Blacktown City Council, Big Switch Projects and Landcom.
- Covering 48 suburbs, Blacktown City is the biggest Local Government Area in NSW and the third largest in Australia, behind Brisbane City and the Gold Coast.
- Blacktown City is in western Sydney, 35km west of the Sydney CBD.
- The Blacktown Solar City project will run from 2007 to 2013.
Solar Cities Project – Australian Government initiative
- Solar Cities is a $75 million initiative announced by the Prime Minister in the Energy White Paper, Securing Australia's Energy Future, in June 2004.
- Solar Cities is an innovative programme which is designed to demonstrate how solar power, smart meters, energy efficiency and new approaches to electricity pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia. To learn more, visit www.greenhouse.gov.au/solarcities
