Building materials manufacturer transitions to renewable energy

DECO Australia, a manufacturer of timber-look aluminium building products, has announced the completion of its solar panel installation project at its Minto facility in Southwest Sydney.

The addition of over 950 solar panels will bring the company’s total solar energy capability to over 500 kW, providing enough energy to power approximately 60% of its operations.

Richard Hamber, DECO Australia General Manager, said the company has always been committed to improving its carbon footprint and is thrilled to invest further into its renewable energy program.

The additional 400 kW generated by the solar panels will specifically contribute to powering two of DECO’s largest production lines, resulting in a reduction in the company’s overall carbon emissions.

“Reducing environmental impact is a strategic focus for DECO and we understand that it aligns with our customers’ priorities too. Manufacturing lower carbon products is not merely a preference; it has become a necessity for those specifiers, builders and homeowners who are making conscious decisions to source greener building materials and products for their projects,” Hamber said.

With building codes constantly changing, such as the introduction of the NSW Government’s ‘BASIX Material Index’ in October this year, DECO remains committed to reducing the embodied carbon of its building materials and supporting the industry’s transition to greener practices.

The company’s sustainability initiatives also extend beyond energy initiatives. In June 2023, the company transitioned to LocAI Green lower carbon aluminium across all its extruded products, supplied by Capral Aluminium, also contributing to emissions reduction.