Hume council’s energy-efficient building upgrades are set to help tenants for one of Sunbury’s sporting facilities.
The sports clubs that lease the McMahon Sports Pavilion at Clarke Oval have benefited from upgrades including a brand new solar energy system, a solar battery and a heat pump hot water system for post-game showers.
Since the upgrades were installed, the council said the facility’s energy costs have dropped by $9000 and carbon emissions have reduced by 24 tonnes per year. Power consumption has dropped nearly 60 per cent, from a monthly average of 4380kWh prior to the installations to 1840kWh after.
Local sports club which use the venue are responsible for paying the energy bills.
The upgrades are part of an ongoing program to improve the energy efficiency of council buildings to reduce carbon emissions, save on energy bills and create climate resilient facilities.
Council’s target is to be carbon neutral in its operations by 2030.
Solar panels, batteries and other energy-saving upgrades have been installed more than 130 council facilities since 2011, with more planned or underway.
The council said its combined solar power on council buildings is reducing its carbon emissions by about 4,500 tonnes a year, saving around $800,000 a year in energy costs.
