Adelaide Advertiser
Tuesday 23/9/2008 Page: 36
Adelaide company Zen Home Energy Systems will provide an innovative sustainable energy system in regional Victoria, and hopes to replicate the project across the rest of the state and South Australia. Zen Home Energy Systems will fit 300 homes in the Towong Shire with the company's fully integrated solar grid connect home energy system and solar hot-water system. Chief executive Richard Turner said the initiative would also get the local community involved.
"We're not just installing solar energy systems in homes and walking away; we're creating a new industry and education program within the community," he said. "Regional centres constantly battle against lowering population levels through losing youth and skilled workers to large cities.
"This initiative will combat that trend by engaging local tradespeople and developing new expertise in the region." Zen is now training local electricians and plumbers to install and maintain the systems, while working with local builders to help them integrate the systems into construction plans.
The company is also running education programs at local schools about renewable energy. Mr Turner said he hoped the scheme would be adopted by other regional towns and plans to offer the program in the Barossa, the Riverland, the South-East and Port Lincoln. "We can see the potential for other shires to get involved with similar projects," he said. "I'm keen to meet with local community leaders to show how the Victorian program can be replicated here in South Australia."
0 comments:
Post a Comment