The Shire of Waroona will install a 20kW solar system to decrease its carbon footprint and reduce energy consumption at its Administration Centre.
The office consumes more than 55,000kW of energy annually, costing around $20,660 per year with current energy provider Synergy.
In order to reduce overall expenditure in this space, investigations were carried out to generate cost savings through the installation of solar panels.
Following consultation with a number of lead solar installation companies, it was determined that a 20KW solar photovoltaic system would result in a saving of $9,200 in the initial year, with savings expected to increase exponentially.
"Investing into sustainability towards a greener future is a win - win for council," Shire president Cr Mike Walmsley said.
"We have a corporate responsibility to create a brighter, better and greener future for the next generation and using solar panels to harness energy from the sun is a great way to make the switch to green energy."
The Shire has selected a five-year lease option allowing the purchase of the asset, without having to outlay excess cash. With no upfront costs and a five year lease, the Shire will pay less annually than what it currently outlays for electricity.
The Shire expects to install the solar panels at the Administration Centre in the coming weeks.
