Clean Energy Future

An initiative to help local councils install solar or heat pump hot water systems in community facilities will help communities save energy and money.

The Local Government Energy Efficiency Program , which opened this week, will help support local business and drive smarter energy use in government buildings and community facilities.

The program is part of the Government’s Clean Energy Future package.

As part of the $24 million program, extra support will be provided to councils in low socio-economic and disadvantaged areas. Additional assistance will also be available to small regional and rural local governing authorities to meet their project management costs.

The Mayor of Moonee Valley Council, Narelle Sharpe, welcomed the opening of the program, which she said would enhance her council’s energy efficiency initiatives.

Moonee Valley City Council has been working hard to reduce its greenhouse emissions, and it’s making great progress with a 40 per cent reduction in energy consumption at its Civic Centre in the last five years.

The council has installed solar hot water at its Civic Centre, as well as rolling these systems out at five local preschools in the last year – saving 19 tonnes of CO2 emissions and $2200 in energy costs.

“Through this program, the Federal Government and energy smart councils like Moonee Valley City Council will support Australian jobs and help local industries remain skilled, innovative and competitive into the
future,” Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Mark Dreyfus said.

For more information on the Local Government Energy Efficiency Program or to access an application form, visit
www.climatechange.gov.au or call the hotline on 1800 463 008.