Cutting emissions and energy bills at Museums Victoria
An ambitious $11 million project to boost energy efficiency and drive down energy costs across Museums Victoria's six buildings has been completed, through an innovative energy management partnership with Siemens and the Victorian Government.
Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director, Museums Victoria said, 'our 2,700 solar panels – supported by the Greener Government Buildings program – are a huge contribution towards reaching our goals around greater sustainability.'
'As Australia’s leading museum organisation, we’re deeply committed to reducing the environmental impact of all our sites while helping visitors understand our changing climate. This is just one of the many initiatives we are currently working on.'
Assistant Treasurer Robin Scott said the project will decrease more than 5,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually, saving Museums Victoria $1.5 million a year and reduce their energy consumption by about 30 per cent.
'This project is a fantastic opportunity to invest in the sustainability of some of our state’s most important cultural institutions,' said Assistant Treasurer Scott.
As part of the upgrade, more than 1 megawatt of solar power (2,700 solar panels) has been installed at four Museum Victoria sites, commencing late last year, including:
- 1350 solar panels at Melbourne Museum, saving 635,308 kilowatt-hours per year
- 938 solar panels for Scienceworks, saving 465,749 kilowatt-hours per year
- 435 solar panels at the Moreland Annexe, saving 205,559 kilowatt-hours per year
- 20 solar panels at Simcock Avenue, saving 9,672 kilowatt-hours per year
The project is one of many being delivered under the Victorian Government’s $188 million Greener Government Buildings program (GGB). The program is improving energy efficiency in government buildings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the state.
The GGB saves energy through a combination of new efficient lighting (e.g. LED), heating and cooling upgrades, solar panels and building automation and controls.
The GGB uses Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) or equivalent processes which engage contractors to design, implement, verify and guarantee savings from an energy efficiency project.
When applied to large and/or complex buildings such as hospitals, office buildings and sporting facilities, EPC is an effective and low-risk approach that is widely accepted around the world.
Under the GGB program, projects pay for themselves over five to eight years.
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