Installing Solar panel on a Community have the double benefits to contribute to our climate purpose as well as helping the tenant with their electricity bills.

Background

Public schools in Australia emit thousands of tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) per year due to their energy consumption. Schools however need safe, well lit and comfortable classrooms and facilities in order to provide the best possible learning environment. â€‹Currently most public schools are getting their electricity from the grid which, in Australia, still relies heavily on dirty fossil fuel power. Not surprisingly, our schools are racking up huge power bills which are ultimately funded by us, the taxpayer.  Even more costly is the huge impact the emissions from schools are having on climate change.

The benefits

Schools are perfect sites for solar as they often have large unshaded roofs and high daytime energy consumption to use the energy when the sun is shining.

Solar power benefits schools and our wider communities by:

  • Reducing carbon emissions

  • Shrinking ongoing energy expenses

  • Providing parents and our future generations with direct exposure to renewable energy

  • Visually demonstrating local climate change solutions in action

The School

Situated in the Northern suburbs of Sydney, Roseville Public School was established in 1913. Steeped in history, Roseville Public School was one of the first schools established in this area.

Currently this primary school is co educational, and has more than 660 children enrolled, of which nearly a quarter are from a non- English speaking background.

The school encourages staff and the wider community to work with students, to make them into responsible, questioning, and critically thinking young students. Various programs cater to individual students’ needs, including a variety of enrichment programs such as urban sustainability (Enviro Kids), STEAM program, visual artist, music (band programs), and philosophy.

The school works closely with The Parents and Citizens Association (P&CA) and the School Council to provide strong support and leadership in the development, direction and funding of educational and other initiatives, such as this solar proposal.

Dick Smith the entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and political activist is one of the more famous Australians to have attended Roseville Public School

Our Partnership

The P&CA at Roseville Public School approached  Solar my School to assist them with identifying the most appropriate solar power system for their school; help with the securing funding; and getting the system installed without undue pressure being applied to the staff running the school.

We are extremely proud to partner with Roseville Public School and its partners to get their solar project delivered. One of the partner organisations is Solar my School who have vast experience in this field with three other eastern suburb projects already delivered.  Their experience and expertise in delivering on time and on budget projects adds to our confidence of working with them and to committing our community funds to this solar project.

In addition, as part of due diligence commitment, we have reviewed the information received from the various partners to the project and that of their consultants and found it to be factually accurate and above board.

The project

ACAF, partnering with Solar my School to assist to the funding of projects which may never get off the ground as Solar my School is sometimes unable to secure the last 10%-25%. This shortfall could be as little as $5,000, and this is where ACAF can be facilitate great emission reductions for a relatively small contribution.

Respected energy consultants Enhar carried out a detailed assessment for Roseville Public School last year and recommended a 53.3kw system for the school. Enhar estimated that the system would supply approximately 33% of the school needs and in addition (due to weekends) it could export up to 30% of what it generated to the grid.

Schools are perfect for roof top solar, as they almost exclusively operate in daylight hours and have little demand for power after the sun goes down. Installation of the system also provides great practical case studies for children to learn about science (how solar power is generated), how emissions affect our climate, and what practical action can be taken to reduce emissions.

The total cost of the system is estimated to be approximately $56,000. The Department of Education provide 50% of the funding, with $28,000 to be funded by the school and its supporters.  Solar my School and the P&CA have already raised just over $20,000 leaving them approximately $7,500 short of their target. 

The Roseville Public School solar project has been the only project that the Board of ACAF has been prepared to put forward to our member as worthy of support.   This is our opportunity of putting community funds toward a project which fulfils our core principle of reducing CO2 emissions. Compared to a Carbon Credit scheme, the Roseville Public School solar system will remove over ten times more CO2 from the atmosphere.  

Your contribution

You too can now make a positive contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions   by donating funds to enable this project to go forward. Even a contribution of $5.00 equates to one tonne less of CO2 in the atmosphere. 

Please go to our Donations page now (see the button below) and givens much as you can.

To help us get the message out to as many people as possible we would appreciate you sharing this request with your family and friends and on your socials.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours.