Media release: Sydney Catholic Schools joins Solar my School movement

8 October 2018

Sydney Catholic Schools joins solar power movement

More than 90 per cent of schools in Sydney's eastern suburbs are introducing solar utilising the free Solar my School Program run by Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils.

Sydney Catholic Schools (SCS) is the latest education provider to sign up to the program to install solar panels at all 18 of its schools in the east. SCS will consider using the Solar my School method to roll out solar across its other schools.

Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra Councils launched Solar my School in 2017 to provide independent support and guidance to primary and secondary schools looking to power their facilities with locally produced clean energy.

Offered to all schools across the eastern suburbs, the program helps local schools navigate a path to solar success from start to finish, from initial solar feasibility and funding advice, through to tender assistance and installation, as well as education for students.

Anthony Weinberg, 3-Council Regional Environment Program Coordinator, welcomed Sydney Catholic Schools to the program and the opportunity to see solar power rolled out to its schools.

"There are huge benefits for schools to go solar including savings on their electricity bills, reducing their environmental footprint and educating students on renewable energy and climate change," Mr Weinberg said.

"Lots of schools want solar, but don't know where to start, and that's where Solar my School comes in, by making the process simple. In the face of rising electricity prices, and falling solar costs, there’s never been a better time for schools to capture these benefits."

Dr Dan White, Executive Director of Sydney Catholic Schools said: “In response to Pope Francis’s Encyclical on climate change we have as part of the Strategic Plan made environmental sustainability a priority, this includes implementing systems that reduce energy usage such as solar installations and other initiatives to reduce the impact on climate change”.

Brigidine College at Randwick was the first school from SCS to install solar utilising the benefits of the program. They installed a 56Kw system, saving the school approximately $7,000 each year on electricity bills to reinvest in other valuable learning facilities.

Moriah College and Waverley and Bronte public schools were among the first schools to join the program to power their buildings with sunshine.

"Schools are the ideal sites for solar as they have large roof spaces, long tenure, large power consumption, and use energy during the day when solar power panels are working at their best," Mr Weinberg said.

"The program strongly supports our three Councils’ mission to reduce carbon emissions across the region, and enable the community to access renewable energy."

Solar my School latest statistics for school participants:

• 2199 megawatts of locally produced clean energy produced each year
• that’s enough energy to power 10,997 computers
• potential combined savings of $306,157 each year
• 21,458 students reached in the program

To learn more, or to register visit: solarmyschool.org.au.

Media inquiries: Jade Ramirez, Media Officer, Sydney Catholic Schools, 0475 835 096 or Deborah Field, Media Officer, Waverley Council, 0416 075 532.

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