Emerald leads solar race

Natalie Granieri from the bakery, Ray Spencer from the Emerald and District Co-op, Emerald Village Meats'' Alan Mills, Jonathan Somers and Bev Zonneveldt from Emerald Medical Centre, and Shauna Harris from Vibe Health and Fitness. 184387 Picture: ROB CAREW

The Emerald Village Bakery and Cafe is the seventh business in the town to install solar panels.

Manager David Granieri said the main reasons for the move were to cut power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Peter Cook from the Emerald-based Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association (DRREA) said Vibe Fitness Gym in Emerald would soon follow suit.

He said the group had been encouraging residents, community groups and business owners in Emerald to install solar since 2008 through its Emerald Going Solar program.

“At least 478 buildings – mainly houses – have solar systems in the Emerald post code area,” Mr Cook said.

In another first for Emerald, its soon-to-be-built community hub will have a charging station for two electric vehicles.

“This means visitors to the town will be able to charge up while enjoying a stop in Emerald,” Mr Cook said.

Other Emerald businesses that have embraced solar include Emerald Co-op Mitre 10, Emerald Village Meats, Emerald Medical Centre, Emerald Produce, Emerald Fuels Plus and Emerald Custom Picture Framing.