Primary School Solar Project Shining Bright
Primary School Solar Project Shining Bright
The Busselton and Dunsborough Community Bank® branches of Bendigo Bank are proud to be sponsors of Dunsborough Primary School’s Solar Panel Project, with positive effects of the scheme evident within the school community more than a year following installation.
A 26.5 kilowatt solar PV system has been providing the school with 30 per cent of its power needs and helping students learn about green energy and environmental conservation.
“Our local Community Bank® branches have a community investment program, so we sat down ... arranged seed funding and put the first $20,000 towards the project,” Branch Manager Luke Pearce said.
Naturaliste Renewable Energy Group chairman and renowned photographer Christian Fletcher donated a series of prints, which raised a total of $6000 for the project.
“It’s important to get kids involved with renewables, because they’re the ones that will benefit the most from this happening,” he said.
Dunsborough Primary School board chairman Michael Baldock said it was “very much a community project”, with Dunsborough Lions Club also donating $5000 to the project — one of the biggest donations the small club has ever made.
“It was a whole school, whole community exercise,” he said.
“The solar system we’ve installed is connected to the internet and has a web portal and an app that comes with it so the students can see what the panels are producing, and that’s really important because seeing the data that comes from the solar panels, understanding the benefits and limitations, and how you get around those, is something that they can apply to their own lives.”
“Our costs and consumption have reduced 16.5 per cent. Based on (that), electricity cost savings will exceed $5,000 over a full year.”
Mr Pearce said the bank would use the DPS solar panel program as a “blueprint” for future projects.
“This is a prime example of how our wonderful town can come together to achieve some really positive outcomes,” he said.
“Financially, environmentally and educationally, this project will make Dunsborough a better place.”
