The Federal Government has launched the Local Government Energy Efficiency Program to help councils to install solar or heat pump hot water systems in community facilities.
The $24 million program provides support to all local councils across Australia to install low pollution, clean energy solar and heat pump hot water systems.
It was jointly launched by the parliamentary secretary for climate change Mark Dreyfus and the federal member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten.
The goal of the program is smarter energy use in local government buildings and community facilities.
“Extra support is provided to councils in low socio-economic or otherwise disadvantaged areas. Extra assistance is also available to small regional and rural local governing authorities to meet project management costs,” Shorten said.
“I am excited, as the Minister for Employment, about the investment in a clean energy future and the jobs growth that will generate."
The Mayor of Moonee Valley Cr Narelle Sharpe said the council has been working hard to reduce greenhouse emissions.
"We are making great progress with a 40 per cent reduction in our energy consumption at our Civic Centre in the last five years,” Cr Sharpe said.
“Council has installed solar hot water here at our Civic Centre, as well as rolling these systems out at five local preschools in the last year – saving 19 tonnes of CO2 emissions and $2200 in energy costs,” she added.
For more information on the Local Government Energy Efficiency Program or to access an application form visit: www.climatechange.gov.au or call the hotline on 1800 463 008.
