Striving for an environmentally sustainable future is incredibly important for many Australians, but especially for those living up here in the beautiful Lower Blue Mountains region. From the world heritage-listed natural landscapes to our endlessly charming towns and parks that sprinkle the map, it’s clear that we live in a place unlike anywhere else in the modern world; and one that’s well-worth the effort protecting however we can. With there being countless ways that we can work together to reduce our carbon footprint, we thought we’d share a project we have recently completed here at Springwood Sports Club – the installation of solar panels!
Solar panels are incredibly effective in helping to achieve a sustainable environment, both for us today and the generations of the future. Compared to that of conventional power production, solar panels involve the use of silicon cells that work to absorb sunlight and undergo what’s a “photovoltaic effect”, essentially converting natural UV rays into functional electricity. The nature of this solar power is clean for our atmosphere and a virtually inexhaustible resource, meaning we can drastically reduce our shared carbon footprint.
As well as this, solar panels are incredibly durable, able to withstand general wear and tear caused by harsh weather; they don’t produce any form of pollution or greenhouse gas and require little to no water when in operation. With the right implementation, solar panels can play a major part in a future where the balance between technological innovation and environmental conservation can coexist harmoniously.
Earlier this year, a total of 181 Performance Series Bifacial 550w Solar Panels were installed neatly along the roof of our club, with direct exposure to the sky and essential sunlight above. The panels, neatly mounted out of sight from ground level, will provide an estimated electrical output of approximately 132,800 kilowatts annually, with 80% of the produced energy being utilised onsite. Importantly, this allows the club to reduce the emission of harmful carbon dioxide gases into the air, something virtually impossible to contain prior to installation. Amazingly, we’ve calculated this reduction of CO₂ to be the equivalent of about 105 tonnes in physical measurements. If we were to dive into this comparison a bit deeper, we can equate this amount to be comparable to that of the CO₂ produced by 17 ½ average Australian households each year; the same energy needed to plant about 4,770 mature trees – or the cooking of approximately 12,000 steaks!
We care deeply about a renewable world here Springwood Sports Club, with environmentally conscious projects such as this one allowing us to take one step closer to the sustainable future that our town and the planet deserves.