By Parker McKenzie
A local bowls club making a big push to be more sustainable has received a $24,025 grant from the state government for the installation of a solar system, lighting upgrades, and the replacement of old gas systems and kitchen equipment.
Boronia Bowls Club is one of 88 community groups to receive a grant to upgrade or install solar panels and renewable energy batteries through the Community Climate Change and Energy Action program.
Director of Boronia Bowls Club Richard McGregor said the solar panels would save the club around $4,000 a year.
“We have to have the installation done in the first week of November and then it takes three weeks to finish all the paperwork,” he said.
“We hope to have it up and functioning by the first week of December.”
Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio, who visited the club to announce the grant, said the program brings the state closer to the goal of reducing Victoria’s emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
“We’re giving community groups like kindergartens, sports clubs and cultural groups the opportunity to reduce their energy costs by upgrading their facilities with simple switches which save money and slash emission,” she said.
“We’re helping community groups reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by over 4,400 tonnes per year.”
Mr McGregor said the solar panels are just one of several initiatives at the club to be more sustainable and energy efficient.
“We’re replacing and rejuvenating all our heating and air conditioning, which has been done. We’re replacing our fridges because they’re very old and they were very expensive to run,” he said.
“We’re also putting in new lights for both greens because we had a very old system. People can’t even remember when it was put in and that’s bad when most of our people are fairly old themselves.”
The upgrades include funding for the installation of the 15kW solar PV system, lighting upgrades from fluoro to LED, replacing the gas heating and evaporative cooling systems with electric alternatives and replacing a refrigeration unit.
Bayswater MP Jackson Taylor said he was “stoked that Boronia Bowls Club was provided this grant to not just help cut down on emissions, but also slash their energy bills, so they can put more money back into the club and the members.”
Mr McGregor said initiatives like the installation of solar panels are a “central part of living today” and “should have been done years ago.”
“Our governments have to be a little bit faster on moving and broader thinking,” he said.
“It’s a slow process I’m afraid within the government departments.”
