MANDURAH has been praised as a renewable energy pioneer by the Climate Council.
The Council said 39 per cent of all Mandurah households had installed rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, making it one of the top solar regions in the nation.
“Mandurah is embracing renewable energy at a staggering rate,” Climate Council executive Amanda McKenzie said.
“It is out in front leading the nation in solar uptake.
“It’s great to see Mandurah residents are taking matters into their own hands, taking control of their power bills and reducing their carbon emissions at the same time.”
Green Sun Solar owner Paul Thompson said he installs three to four PV systems on Mandurah homes every week.
“I know in the last five years demand [for solar panels] has gone through the roof,” he said.
“It helps to combat the rise in electricity prices because it offsets up to 80 per cent of the bill.”
Ms McKenzie said about 15,000 new solar PV systems were installed each month across the country, with more than 1.1 million Australians making the transition.
However a recent Climate Council report found locally led energy innovation was at odds with the national electricity sector, which it said was inefficient and unprepared to meet Australia’s future energy needs.
“The traditional energy sector is responsible for 33 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions – the main driver of climate change,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Mandurah households already know that renewables make sense economically and environmentally, now it’s time for the rest of the country to catch up.”
