Yarra City Council has partnered with the Yarra Energy Foundation (YEF) to empower the local community to go solar.
Council says through this partnership, YEF is providing residents with discounted prices on quality solar energy systems.
As a bonus, for every 100-kilowatts of solar installed through the Yarra Solar Program, 1 kilowatt has been donated to a local community organisation, it said.
Local not-for-profit, Lighthouse Foundation received a 4-kilowatt solar energy system through the program after nearly 100 Yarra residents installed over 400 kilowatts of solar at home.
Established in 1991, Lighthouse Foundation provides homeless young people with a home, a sense of family, and around-the-clock and individually tailored therapeutic care.
They work with traumatised children and young people who find themselves homeless, at risk of homelessness or in out-of-home care.
Kaitlyn Spears, Marketing and Community Manager at Lighthouse Foundation, says, “Installing solar is a win-win-win-win.”
- Win 1: “The savings from reduced electricity costs will contribute to our ground-breaking work.”
- Win 2: “The solar panels will improve the sustainability of this property as a Lighthouse Home into the future.”
- Win 3: “By increasing our capacity to generate electricity from the sun, we can boost energy independence.”
- Win 4: “The solar panels are a win for the environment.”
Electricity prices are one of the Foundation’s largest operational expenses. With a social value return of 1:12 ($1 spent = $12 of value), the savings from reduced electricity costs will contribute to addressing the cause of and working toward the elimination of youth homelessness.
Lighthouse Foundation staff found Yarra Energy Foundation good to work with.
“They have been responsive and reliable at all stages throughout the installation process,” Ms Spears said.
“We are incredibly grateful to have been selected to receive this generous donation and are delighted with the outcome.”
Lighthouse Foundation has now lodged funding applications to install solar on all their Lighthouse Homes.
The Yarra Solar Program is now run by the Metro Community Power Hub, led by the Yarra Energy Foundation. Find out more or get a solar quote.