The Knox Leisure Works in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs has been retrofitted with a large solar array.
The solar array and system was designed by RJM Sunpower; the Clean Energy Council has announced that Robert McCauley of RJM Sunpower has won an Award for Excellence for the “design and installation greater than 5kW Stand-alone power system”.
The goal of the project was to reduce total energy consumption by 55%.
An holistic approach for achieving a more sustainable facility was adopted, utilising a range of complementary measures.
Features
- 11.5kW grid-connect solar power system
- UPS (uninterrupted power supply) battery back-up allows the cafe, offices, cash register, internal electric doors and gates and the staff room to keep operating during a grid power outage.
- Double glazing in new buildings and retrofitted to existing buildings
- Solar hot water is used to maintain pool temperatures
- Roof insulation R5 rating
- Variable speed pumps to conserve energy
- 1400 square meters of solar heating for hot water
- Solar hot water system using evacuated tubes for showers and sinks
- High efficiency Helicoil gas boiler
- Recycled water from the facility is piped to nearby ovals and back into the pool.
Credits
- Project Manager: John Williams, Knox City Council
- Design and installation of solar system: RJM Sunpower
- AC 240v/425v: Adams eco Electrics was contracted to assist in the installation of the DC control equipment and design the AC 240v/415v requirements for the solar power system.
Outcome
- The system provides critical electricity to all essential service facilities in the leisure centre. The system has been tested and proven in operation to provide automatic change-over from grid electrical supply to battery back-up supply.
- Water consumption has been reduced by 40%
- Total energy consumption has been reduced by 47%, and is on track to meet the 55% reduction target
- The additional $850,000 spent on sustainability content of this project will be recouped in 5.7 years.
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