2011 ActewAGL Green Grants
ActewAGL offered not-for-profit organisations and schools in the capital region the chance to receive up to $10,000 for an environmental project that will help reduce energy and water use and have a positive impact on the environment and sustainability.
Successful applicants
The Australian Railway Historical Society ACT
The Australian Railway Historical Society ACT estimated that, depending on rainfall, they can reduce town water usage by 90,000 to 120,000 litres per annum by installing three 10,000 litre tanks to supply water to their trains.
Steam trains run weekly from Canberra to Bungendore and require approximately 12,000 litres of water per trip. The society will capture water to fuel the trains and appropriate plumbing and pipes will be installed to facilitate collection as well as an electric pump to extract the water from the tanks.
The Society provides an experience of Australia's railway heritage within the Canberra Region through its operating museum, train trips, and associated education and tourism activities.
Chapman Primary School
Chapman Primary School caters for approximately 550 students from preschool to year 6.
The school plans to reduce energy consumption by providing funding for a power factor correction unit. The school is predominantly heated and cooled with reverse cycle air conditioning units.
The installation of the correction unit will raise the power factor which will result in approximately 17% increased efficiency.
Latham Primary School
Latham Primary School caters for approximately 300 students from preschool to year 6.
The school plans to reduce energy loss by installing automatic door closures on various identified doors. Some of these door closures will also be used to replace existing door closures which no longer work efficiently due to aging parts.
The energy audit report recommended that automatic door closures can be fitted to frequently used doors so hot air does not escape the building during the colder months, yet can remain open during summer. Savings will be significant and evident once the closures are fitted.
Multiple Sclerosis ACT
We have replaced seven toilets with new dual flush systems at Multiple Sclerosis ACT. The old single-flush toilets were over 20 years old.
The ACT not-for-profit organisation will now help out the environment whilst continuing to help people affected by multiple sclerosis in Canberra and Southern NSW.
Spielwelt German Parents Association – Turner Scout Hall
Spielwelt will replace the current inefficient windows in the Turner Scout Hall with double glazed aluminium windows. The upgrade of the windows will significantly reduce the draft in the building and add to the efficiency of the solar space heater (installed in 2010 to improve energy efficiency).
The Spielwelt German Parents Association is responsible for the management and maintenance of the 40 year old building that is a central hub for many community activities.
The Uniting Church of St James community hall
The Uniting Church Community Hall, Curtin, plans to reduce water usage by upgrading toilets to dual flush. The group will also replace 4 sets of basin taps with quarter turn ceramic to reduce dripping.
The church hall provides a venue for many community groups and has a community usage of over 1,000 people per week.