Hawthorn Supermarket Switches On To Solar Power

 

Hawthorn Renaissance IGA Supermarket Leads Retail Industry To Cut Carbon Emissions
  
Melbourne, Victoria, January 22, 2010. The Renaissance Supa IGA supermarket in Hawthorn, Victoria, is leading the Australian retail sector in reducing its carbon emissions by switching to solar power.
  
Under its own store initiative, the Victorian supermarket is playing its part in harvesting clean energy from its rooftop and recently acquired a grid-connected solar power system, supplied and installed by national solar solutions provider Energy Matters. The system is currently in the final stages of installation and is due to be commissioned in early February.
   
Energy production is a particularly pressing environmental issue in Victoria given the state's heavy reliance on brown coal. 
   
Covering 32.5 square metres, the supermarket’s solar system will generate an annual electricity of about 7,658 kilowatt-hours. This represents a carbon emissions reduction equivalent of nearly 10 tonnes per year for the supermarket.
   
According to Renaissance Supa IGA Hawthorn Store Owner, George Altman, "Supermarkets are large users of power. As the world turns to more sustainable and green power use, we have decided to augment our power usage with solar energy."
   
"Our outlet is located in a highly educated and socially conscious area of Melbourne and our customers and staff enthusiastically support this initiative. Most supermarkets have large flat roofs and are ideal candidates for solar power installations. We are proud to be leaders in this initiative," he added.
  
Energy Matters was chosen to supply and install the system based on the company's history of successful commercial installations, the provision of high quality components and a pricing point that will see the supermarket benefits from a more rapid return on its investment.
  
Government rebates and incentives available for renewable energy equipment helped offset a substantial amount of the cost of the system.
  
The Renaissance Supa IGA Hawthorne is located at 550 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn.
 
About Energy Matters
  
Energy Matters is one of Australia's largest companies solely dedicated to renewable energy solutions for residential, government and commercial applications. Energy Matters is also active in the community in providing tools and education on topics relating to solar and wind power, sustainability and other environmental issues.
  
CONTACT: 
Nick Brass
Energy Matters
PH: 1300 727 151 
nick.brass@energymatters.com.au 
http://www.energymatters.com.au  

The Solar Royals

 

Attention has certainly been drawn to the Royal Family again in Australia with the recent visit of Prince William. 
  
While the media focus on the Prince's visit has been on photo opportunities and the ongoing republican debate murmuring in the background, there's more to William than barbecues, chatting with music stars and toting machine guns. It seems Prince William has a green streak too and recognises the crossroads that society has found itself at.
   
In a recent speech to mark the 20th anniversary of the Tusk Trust, an organisation that protects endangered species in Africa, he commented,  "The imperative of balancing conservation of wildlife and natural resources with the ever-growing needs of the human race is at the heart of the great challenge facing mankind today." 
   
While the Royal Family has often endured criticism for what is viewed as a privileged and consumptive lifestyle, some members haven't just been talking about the environment, but also making attempts to "go green" for years - decades in fact.
  
Prince Charles' passion for the environment is well known and last year he began investigating the possibility of installing solar panels on his London residence, Clarence House. Prior to that his household had become carbon-neutral through energy efficiency and carbon offsetting measures. Prince Charles also recently converted two of his vehicles to run on biodiesel and another on bio-ethanol fuel.
  
But Charles isn't the first "Solar Prince" - his father can lay claim to that title. Prince Philip installed a solar hot water system over 30 years ago at Sandringham.
  
Other efforts by the Royal Family include initiatives by the Queen herself. An organic vegetable garden was added to the grounds at Buckingham Palace last year - the first time such a garden has been in place since the push for "victory gardens" during World War 2; a concept that helped the nation feed itself through some very dark years.
  
Source : Times Online - The Prince of Wales

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