Schools to save on electricity and water

The Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, today announced the latest schools to receive grants as part of the Gillard Government’s National Solar Schools Program.

Under the 2011-12 round, 784 schools across Australia have each been awarded grants of up to $50,000, which will help save and generate energy, as well as use water more wisely by installing solar and other renewable power systems, rainwater tanks and a range of energy-efficiency measures.

“The National Solar Schools Program gives school children the opportunity to see energy generation and learn the importance of water and energy conservation first hand. To date, 3800 schools across Australia have been awarded grants under the program, Dreyfus said.

“The combination of renewable energy systems installed under this program will generate approximately 20 MW of solar power - the equivalent of powering around 4200 average households each day,” he said.

Applications were assessed on value-for-money criteria, as well as environmental and educational benefits.

Applications from schools located in remote or low socioeconomic areas received additional weighting to allow funding to be directed to schools most in need.

Applications for 2012-13, the final round of the National Solar Schools Program, will open on 13 February 2012. Further information about the program, including a list of successful grant recipients, is available on the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency website: www.climatechange.gov.au/nationalsolarschools.