Council to deliver energy saving measures at Council facilities
January 31, 2019
Colac Otway Shire Council will redirect funds toward energy efficiency upgrades at Council facilities to reduce energy costs and assist Council reach its target to be carbon neutral by 2020.
Council will allocate $100,000 from the Main Road Street Lighting Upgrade Project to deliver energy saving measures at Council facilities including the Rae Street Civic Precinct, COPACC and Bluewater Leisure Centre among other facilities.
Reallocation of the funds was recommended largely due to the opportunity to match the $100,000 with funding from Sustainability Victoria through the Local Government Energy Saver (LGES) program; energy efficiencies at Council facilities were identified in recent energy audits through the LGES program.
The Main Roads Street Lights Upgrade Project was to continue replacement of residential street lights to LED, a project Council commenced in 2014 with substantial Federal Government funding through the Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP).
Colac Otway Shire Council spent $389,719 toward the overall CEEP cost of $669,329 to replace 1,414 street lights across the shire. However, with no opportunities for external funding for this project, Council estimated it would require a further $70,000 on top of the budgeted $100,000 to complete the project.
Mayor Jason Schram said Bluewater, COPACC and the Rae Street Civic Precinct had been identified by the LGES program to provide Council with significant opportunities for improvements and savings.
“It’s estimated we can make energy saving measures at key Council facilities which will provide Council with savings of around 20 to 30 per cent. This is based on efficiencies undertaken through similar upgrades at other Councils involved in the LGES program.
“On this basis, it’s anticipated the energy saving measures at Council facilities will be paid off in approximately five years, whereas it’d be more like 11 years to pay back the Main Road Lighting Upgrade Project,” Cr Schram said.
“By delaying the Main Road Lighting Upgrade Project we hope to forge stronger alliances with other Great South Coast and the G21 Councils who are keen to also partake in the upgrade program. This collaboration will see a better outcome for Council in the long run.
“The Lighting Upgrade Project remains a Priority Project for Council and is included in Council’s advocacy program. We will continue to work with our neighbouring Councils in advocating to State and Federal Government to try and reduce the amount Council has to spend and also improve the return on Council’s investment,” he said.
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