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A casual conversation during a beachside walk has helped Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club tackle one of its rising running costs.
With electricity prices rising by up 20 per cent over the past two years, and the clubrooms busy throughout the year, club manager Ange Moore says power has become a significant expense for the volunteer organisation.
The idea of solar began when a club parent was talking with the club’s finance manager about the pressure of rising costs.
“They said, ‘I know someone who may be able to help you,’” Moore says.
That introduction eventually connected the club with Entelar Energy and Trilect Solar, which worked with the club to install a solar power system on the clubrooms in July.
The 96-panel system is expected to significantly reduce the club’s electricity bill. Entelar Energy estimates it could save the club more than $9000 a year, although Moore says the club is waiting for its first full power bills to see the impact.
While summer is the busiest time for surf lifesaving, the Red Beach club operates year-round, with weekend events, training and junior programmes all contributing to its electricity use.
Moore says reducing those costs means more of the club’s limited funds can go towards its core work.
“It’s also about future-proofing the club, supporting the environment and looking at ways we can make our club run more efficiently,” she says.
Installing solar had been considered previously, but funding a system independently would have been difficult for the volunteer-run organisation.
Entelar Energy and Trilect Solar contributed equipment, expertise and installation support to make the project possible.
The panels were installed over four days with little disruption to the club’s activities.
Entelar Energy says the system is expected to generate about 56 megawatt hours of electricity each year, roughly equivalent to the annual electricity use of eight average New Zealand homes.
For the 73-year-old surf lifesaving club, the main benefit is reducing one of its regular bills and freeing up more money for training, equipment and keeping people safe on the beach.
