The State of the Climate 2020 report from the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO tells us that 2019 was the hottest and driest year on record, and we can expect more frequent and intense heatwaves, longer fire seasons, and shifting rain patterns across Australia.
Reducing carbon emissions continues to be a major driver of activity at Inner West Council. Mayor Darcy Byrne joined forty other mayors and councillors in committing to economic recovery solutions that create local jobs while tackling climate change.
After declaring a climate emergency last year, Council adopted a Climate and Renewables Strategy and established a new Office of Renewable Energy Innovation. Council is working to make its own operations 100% carbon neutral and renewable for electricity. It has installed 618kW of solar across 37 Council facilities including town halls, childcare centres and all swimming pools. The new Ashfield Aquatic Centre has a 250kW array.
Council encourages the community to increase its uptake of solar, with the aim of being a zero emissions community by 2050. The Solar My School program is supporting 23 schools to install solar in the Inner West, with Dobroyd Point Public School celebrating an installation on its school hall and library on 26 November. The 24.1KW solar system will save the school 26% on its electricity bill and will reduce annual C02 emissions by 30 tonnes (equivalent to taking 10 cars off the road each year).
Council also supports property owners, renters, apartment dwellers and businesses through the Go Solar program
- Watch the recent Introduction to Solar and Batteries webinar to see if solar and/or batteries is right for your home.
- Watch the recent Solar assessments for business webinar and Solar for strata webinar and sign up to be part of the business or strata programs.
- Watch the Haystacks solar garden webinar and invest in this innovative renewable energy project.
- Get independent energy savings advice and solar quotes
The Go Solar program was recognised at the national Cities Power Partnership Climate Awards with Council winning the Community Engagement Achievement award, for excellence in working to reduce emissions through community engagement, education and behaviour change projects and programs.
