Solar Power for new Bellingen Library

Bellingen Courier Sun
Wednesday 26/3/2008 Page: 3

Photovoltaic cells will be used to generate power for the new library and this will be fed back into the electricity supply grid. Building Manager Bob Malone reported to Council on the various scenarios being considered to provide "Green energy" to the library. Mr Malone said the architect Steve Gorrell has designed the extensions with the objective of complying with the new energy efficiency requirements of Section J of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) 2007 in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He said: "The proposed office extensions are relatively conventional buildings, purposely designed in an attempt to keep costs within a limited budget and to fit in with a smaller country town and heritage context." Mr Malone said an Energy Simulation Model was undertaken and the building found to be 30% more efficient than the target level as required by the BCA. He said elements of the building which contribute to energy savings are sun louvres, deep overhangs, wind turbines, roof insulation, floor insulation and air conditioning.

Other items which Mr Malone describes as "modest energy measures" are provision of new generation T5 fluorescent lighting, perimeter lighting adjacent to windows switched separately to interior, turbine ventilators to roof spacing along with eaves vents to cool roof space and reduce air conditioning loads. Mr Malone also says there is a device that monitors and displays current and logged energy use and carbon emissions through a mounted LCD screen enabling both stall and the public to visually recognise the building's carbon outputs.

Two systems for solar energy have been proposed, a 5kW and a 6.6kW system. The two systems would have approximate payback periods of 33 years for a $36,000 and $47,000 investment respectively or 21 years if a 5% per annum increase in electricity fees is presumed. The savings then is rather in greenhouse gas saved. This equates to 132 tonnes of carbon dioxide for the 5kW system or 172 tonnes for the 6.6kW system over 20 years.

Mr Malone also suggested that Council switch their present power requirements for the Administration Building and Library to Greenpower. Even though it's not as cost efficient and doesn't generate as much positive publicity Council can immediately cut greenhouse gases by 60%. The cost increase over 20 years would probably be $12,000.

General Manager Mike Colreavy said the cost of the solar system had not been factored in to the original cost of the library and that was why it was being brought to Council now. Cr Child asked whether more trees would have to be removed to make way for the panels on the roof to be free of shade. Director of Engineering Mike Edsall said he would have to check. Council passed the resolution to install the solar system and to transfer their present power requirements to Greenpower leaving details of the proposed system and supplier to the administration.