26 October 2007
Kevin Rudd MP
Federal Labor Leader
Peter Garrett MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Heritage
A Rudd Labor Government will invest up to $489 million in a National Solar Schools Plan to make all of Australia’s 9,612 private and public schools “Solar Schools” within eight years.
Federal Labor’s National Solar Schools Plan will allow all Australian schools to apply for:
- Grants of up to $20,000 to install 2 kilowatt solar panels to provide average greenhouse gas savings of up to 2.8 tonnes per year.
- Grants of up to $30,000 to install efficiency improvements so schools can invest in energy and water measures including rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, and lighting upgrades.
Federal Labor’s National Solar Schools Plan will invest up to $50,000 in every school across Australia.
This significant commitment will generate jobs and investment in Australia’s sustainable industries and trades, with significant educational benefits for students and communities.
Federal Labor’s National Solar Schools Plan will replace the Government’s current Green Vouchers scheme which only allows schools to apply for grants to install rainwater tanks or solar hot water systems.
Federal Labor will inject an extra $ 150 million on top of the existing funding commitment to ensure that every that every school in Australia is able to install solar panels on their rooftop.
Federal Labor’s plan will also allow schools to install a much wider variety of energy and water saving projects as well as rainwater tanks.
$20,000 grants to install solar panels on the rooftops of Australian schools
Federal Labor’s National Solar Schools Plan will support the installation of a 2kW solar power system which would result in an average greenhouse gas saving of 2.8 tonnes per year.
In total, these systems will reduce annual emissions by 27,000 tonnes.
The current government Green Vouchers program does not fund the installation of solar panels in Australian schools.
$30,000 grants for energy and water efficiency improvements in Australian schools
Federal Labor’s Solar Schools Plan will fund up to $30,000 worth of efficiency improvements so schools can invest in any combination of solar hot water systems, rainwater tanks, passive solar innovations such as sky lights, shade awnings, lighting upgrades or other energy efficiency measures and extended solar power systems.
Surplus electricity generated on weekends and summer holidays can be sold back to the electricity grid for further electricity and greenhouse savings. Solar Schools' power systems will be compatible with any existing school solar power system, such as those provided under State and Territory Government solar energy programs, and will be expansion-ready should a school wish to install additional solar panels.
The future of Australia’s economy and environment depends on strong and decisive action now on climate change.
Yet today only 0.05 per cent of Australia’s energy needs are being met using solar energy; this is an indictment of the Howard Government’s failure to act on climate change over the past 11 and a half years.
Federal Labor will act on climate change by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and driving the use of clean energy such as solar power.
Federal Labor’s Solar Schools Plan builds on Labor’s commitment to:
- Provide up to $ 10,000 in low interest Green Loans for Australian families to undertake practical water and energy measures in their homes;
- Offer rebates of up to $ 1,000 for solar and heat-pump hot water systems in homes across Australia;
- Contribute $ 13.9 million to make Perth a Solar City to assist more than 6,000 homes and businesses improve their energy efficiency;
- Offer rebates of up to $500 for 500,000 homes under Federal Labor’s National Rainwater/Greywater Plan to help install new piping for grey water use or rainwater tanks; and
- Establish a new 10-star appliance rating system and Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards to fast-track smart efficient technology.
Lachlan Harris 0417 592 338