7 JANUARY 2010 - ALICE BUSINESSES LEADING THE WAY IN SOLAR INITIATIVES
More than 100 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year will be saved in Alice Springs in 2010 thanks to the latest local businesses to sign up for a roof top solar power system.
Alice Solar City General Manager Brian Elmer said 12 new businesses signed up in December, bringing total generation capacity to be installed for commercial systems to 142kW – enough to power 27 average households.
Businesses involved include tourism, industrial, office space and education facilities, using a range of different configurations and local installers.
“And while the Alice Solar City program is helping them with the initial financial set-up, local businesses are putting their money where their hearts are to get on board.”
The first business out of the blocks to install a solar power systems this year was Alice Springs Helicopters which had a 5kW photovoltaic system installed on their office building on 2 January.
The system will cover an estimated 70% of their annual electricity needs, saving them an estimated $1800 per annum in energy costs, and preventing more than 5 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum.
Alice Springs Helicopters Director MechelleCollins said the generous grants had enabled their business to install the commercial PV system.
“We are very happy with it and have also had a solar PV system installed on our own house.”
