BATHURST art gallery and library are set to go a little greener thanks to the addition of solar panels.
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In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Bathurst Regional Council has committed to installing renewable energy infrastructure at a range of facilities around the city.
The gallery and library project will be the 12th site to get solar panels.
Mayor Graeme Hanger said the installation of solar panels at the library and art gallery will take council's solar program to $95,000 in savings per annum based on current electricity prices.
“If electricity prices were to increase, the savings will be more,” he said.
“This particular installation will save an estimated 123MWh of electricity per year and avoid 107 tonnes of CO2 being released to the atmosphere each year, saving approximately $21,000 per annum.”
Following the recent upgrade to the heating and cooling system at the premises, an 80kW solar system will be installed to offset much of the daytime electricity use.
This will produce enough electricity to cover around 20 to 20 per cent of the annual electricity required to run the gallery.
This building was the third largest energy user in council’s area.
- Bathurst Regional Art Gallery director Richard Perram
Cr Hanger said it was essential than the facility’s air conditioning system was upgraded first to allow council to work out how much electricity was being used prior to the solar panel installation.
Bathurst Regional Art Gallery director Richard Perram said he looks forward to the works being undertaken.
“This building was the third largest energy user in council’s area,” he said.
The gallery and library solar panel program comes following a number of other major installations.
“Since 2009, council has installed 224kW of solar generation across 11 sites including a 50kW system at the Water Filtration Plant in 2014 and a 100kW ground-mounted system at the Waste Water Treatment Plant in June last year,” Cr Hanger said.
Installation of the solar panels at the library and gallery will take place from May 23 to 25.
The solar panels will be fitted to the roof of both buildings and they will remain open during the installation process.