Orange’s senior citizens are about to become leaders in renewable energy thanks to a grant from the Sparktank.
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The Orange Senior Citizens and Pensioners Centre will receive solar panels to make its electricity use sustainable.
However, it’s not just free electricity, the centre will receive and be able to share an education kit which will help seniors and other community members understand solar power.
Getting the grant was a combined effort between the Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange (ECCO), Orange City Council and Orange’s University of the Third Age (U3A) which meets in the centre.
Councillor Neil Jones said the grant was a “great example of a partnership between council, ECCO and U3A”.
ECCO president Nick King said Sparktank was developed by Skillset Bathurst with state government funding.
Residents, businesses and community groups pitch to Sparktank and receive funds to make it reality.
Mr King said from 27 entries across three divisions, Orange won $9,900.
“There’s two elements, there’s the installation of solar panels on the senior citizens centre and educating senior citizens on energy use and efficiency,” Mr King said.
“Energy is becoming a complex issue and some people will need help to navigate that issue.
“We’re creating a process which can be duplicated, it can be used not just by groups using the building, but also for other people during seniors week or sustainable living week.”
ECCO member Robert Alford has designed the educational kit for seniors and other residents.
“The commercial reality of going out and getting solar panels can be fraught with issues,” Mr Alford said.
“We’re trying to use council and this grant to help education the entire community.
“There’s a checklist to make it easier, but also to provide some consumer protection.
“It’s to prevent people buying more capacity then what’s needed or they can afford, but also ensuring that they get what they pay for.
“These days returning power to the network is not worth the cost of a solar panel.”
Before the panels are installed, ECCO has already started an energy audit on the building, looking for
“We did an energy audit to find any issues which needed correction,” ECCO’s Brian Phillips said.
“The more we tighten up everything in the building, the better our offset is with the solar panels.”
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
