Alice Solar City

Alice Springs is one of just 7 cities in Australia that have been selected to participate in the Australian Government’s Solar Cities initiative.

Solar Cities is an innovative program that aims to show how technology, behaviour change and new approaches to electricity pricing can combine to provide a sustainable energy future in urban locations throughout Australia.

Alice Springs Town Council is the lead proponent in the Alice Solar City project (www.alicesolarcity.com.au).

Alice Springs is a unique place receiving, on average, more than 9 hours of sunlight per day which makes it an ideal location to make use of solar power. The extreme conditions that we live with year round also mean that energy use is quite high. Alice Solar City aims to empower the community to make informed and intelligent use of energy and water.

Who is behind Alice Solar City

Alice Solar City (ASC) is overseen by a consortium of local organisations, that who provide cash and in-kind support to the project. The members are:

• Alice Springs Town Council (ASTC) – lead proponent
• Northern Territory Government (NTG)
• Power and Water Corporation (PWC).
• Desert Knowledge Co-operative Research Centre (DKCRC);
• Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC);
• Tangentyere Council; and
• Northern Territory Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NTCCI)

What do you have to gain from being part of Alice Solar City?

Alice Solar City provides residents with a comprehensive service which includes an energy survey; tailored advice to improve the energy efficiency of the household and cash incentives to undertake a range of measure that result in energy savings. By utilising the range of services from Alice Solar City, householders will benefit in a number of ways:

• they will become informed about energy use in the home;
• become more energy efficient and thus saving energy and money;
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions

The first step is to visit the Smart Living Centre on Todd Street opposite the Civic Centre (open 9am-6pm Monday to Thursday; 10.30am-5pm Friday). The Smart Living Centre has a range of displays on solar hot water, solar electricity (photovoltaics), lighting and other relevant information. It is here where you sign up and arrange the first step of the journey, a home energy survey. After the survey, a personalised energy report is provided, the assessor will provide advice verbally throughout the assessment, a detailed written report will also be provided by the assessor at the completion covering ways to conserve energy.Based on the recommendations, shortly after the assessment the householder will be sent a number of special Alice Solar City vouchers. These vouchers, specific to the household, are effectively cash incentives that can be used as part payment for those particular measures that have been identified in the report as key areas for improvement.

To find out more, visit the Smart Living Centre team who will be only too happy to help, or visit the Alice Solar City website at www.alicesolarcity.com.au