I’m a sucker for feel-good green stories like this one sent to us by the Waverley Council PR people. Be great if all the surf clubs were solar powered I reckon. Anyway, here’s the bumpf…
World’s Oldest Surf Lifesaving Club Goes Solar
On Saturday 6 February, the world’s oldest surf lifesaving club, Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club, will go solar courtesy of Bondi Solar – an initiative of Waverley Council and the Green Solar Group.
Solar panels have also been installed at the iconic and heritage listed Bondi Pavilion.
It is expected these solar panels combined will generate over 160,000 kWh of electricity, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 160 tonnes carbon dioxide and save close to $25,000 on energy bills over their lifetime.
Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said, ”This is a great example of solar panels demonstrating that new green technology can be incorporated into heritage buildings. We’re working to make Bondi Beach the most environmentally friendly place in the country.
“This is just one of the initiatives we are doing to help us reach our ambitious targets outlined in our Environmental Action Plan. Council’s greenhouse gas targets are in line with the International Panel for Climate Change’s recommendations – a 30% reduction by 2020 and a 70% reduction by 2050.”
“Partnering up with local company, Green Solar Group for this exciting initiative is exactly what’s needed to help us achieve that goal.”
Briana Green, Director of the Green Solar Group said, “We’re thrilled that Green Solar Group has been chosen to partner with Waverley Council to further its green efforts. With this solar installation, we hope to continue trumpeting the use of solar photovoltaic systems and demonstrate that energy efficiency and renewable energy can be incorporated in even the most historic of buildings.”
Waverley Mayor Sally Betts, Federal Member of Wentworth the Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins (Waverley’s head lifeguard and star of popular TV show Bondi Rescue) will join the Bondi Nippers to celebrate Bondi Pavilion and Bondi Surf Bathers’ Life Saving Club entering the era of carbon emissions and climate change with colourful surf life saving demonstrations and the releasing of solar powered grass hoppers.
Launch: Saturday 6 February 6 at 10.15am at the front of the Bondi Pavilion
