Imagine a future where your childcare centre or school operates with significantly lower energy bills, provides a healthier environment for children, and serves as a beacon of sustainability for your community. This vision is within reach. By embracing renewable energy solutions like solar panels and battery storage, implementing energy efficiency upgrades, and considering electric vehicles, your organisation can unlock substantial cost savings, enhance learning opportunities, and drastically reduce its environmental footprint.
CORENA is here to help you turn this vision into reality. We offer technical support and interest-free loans specifically designed to empower childcare and educational organisations in their transition towards renewable energy, sustainability, and climate action. From installing solar panels on your rooftops and integrating efficient heating and cooling systems to exploring electric vehicle options, we can guide you through every step. By partnering with us, you can not only reduce your operational costs and enhance your resilience but also provide invaluable learning experiences for students and demonstrate your unwavering commitment to a sustainable future for generations to come.
Solar Panels for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Installing solar panels on the often large, unused roof spaces of childcare centres and school buildings. This could be staged, starting with high-consumption areas or buildings.
Specific Benefits:
- Reduced Operational Costs: Childcare centres with extended operating hours and schools with significant daytime energy use can drastically cut electricity bills. For example, you could save on the costs of running air conditioning during hot summer days or reducing heating expenses in winter.
- Educational Tool: Integrate real-time solar energy generation data into classroom lessons on sustainability and science. Children can learn about where their energy comes from through interactive displays.
- Community Engagement: Showcase the centre or school’s commitment to environmental responsibility to parents and the wider community, potentially attracting environmentally conscious families.
Learn more in Solar Panels – A Guide For Non Profits
Renewable Energy Batteries for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Pairing battery storage with solar panel installations. The size of the battery system can be scaled to match the energy needs and solar generation capacity.
Specific Benefits:
- Power Resilience: Ensure essential services like lighting, refrigeration for food, and IT equipment remain operational during power outages, crucial for the safety and well-being of children and the continuity of learning.
- Optimised Energy Use: Store excess solar energy generated during peak sunlight hours and use it to power your overnight load such as servers or outdoor lighting.
- Potential Revenue Generation: Participate in virtual power plant (VPP) programs, where the stored energy can be fed back into the grid during peak demand events, generating income for your centre or school.
Learn more in Solar & Renewable Energy Batteries: Why, When & How To Use Them
Energy Efficiency Initiatives for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
A multi-pronged approach including:
- LED Lighting Retrofits: Replacing older, less efficient lighting with energy-efficient LEDs throughout the buildings and outdoor areas.
- Building Envelope Upgrades: Improving insulation in walls, roofs, and windows to reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
- Efficient appliances – such as heat pump dryers and efficient washing machines especially in childcare centres where washing may make up a large proportion of your energy use.
- Water Efficiency Measures: Installing low-flow showerheads. This can save a significant amount of energy by reducing the amount of water you have to heat.
Specific Benefits:
- Significant Cost Savings: Lower utility bills across lighting, heating, cooling, and water usage, allowing more funds to be directed to educational programs and resources.
- Improved Learning Environment: Better lighting and consistent temperatures can enhance comfort and concentration for children and staff.
- Educational Opportunities: Involve students in energy audits and conservation projects to teach them about sustainability in a practical way.
Learn more in Energy Efficiency Audit Guide For Non Profits
Energy-Efficient Hot Water Systems for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Specific Benefits:
- Reduced Hot Water Costs: Significantly lower the energy bills associated with heating water, a constant need in childcare centres for hygiene and in school kitchens and potentially for cleaning.
- Reliable Hot Water Supply: Electric hot water systems, often with a backup system, can provide a consistent source of hot water.
- Environmental Benefits: Reduce reliance on fossil fuels or electricity for water heating, lowering the carbon footprint.
Learn more in Green & Energy Efficient Water Heating Guide For Non Profits
Heat Pumps for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Replacing traditional electric or gas heating and cooling systems with energy-efficient heat pumps. These can be installed in individual classrooms or as part of a central HVAC system.
Specific Benefits:
- Efficient Heating & Cooling: Provide comfortable indoor temperatures year-round with significantly lower energy consumption compared to conventional systems. This is particularly beneficial in regions with distinct seasons like many parts of Australia.
- Improved Air Quality: Some heat pumps come with filtration systems that can improve indoor air quality, creating a healthier environment for children and staff, especially important for those with allergies or respiratory issues. Some even have HEPA filters that can remove airborne pathogens, such as COVID, RSV and influenza.
- Reduced Noise: Modern heat pumps operate quietly, minimising disruption to learning and nap times.
Learn more in Heat Pumps Guide for Non Profits
Induction Stovetops for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Replacing gas or traditional electric stovetops in school or childcare centre kitchens with induction cooktops.
Specific Benefits:
- Enhanced Safety: Induction cooktops only heat the cookware, not the surface itself, significantly reducing the risk of burns, a crucial safety consideration in environments with children.
- Energy Efficiency: Induction cooking is more energy-efficient than gas or traditional electric, as heat is generated directly in the pot or pan.
- Faster Cooking Times: Induction heats up quickly, saving time in busy kitchen environments.
- Easier Cleaning: The smooth surface is easier to clean than traditional stovetops.
Learn more in Induction Stovetops Guide for Non Profits
Electric Vehicles for Childcare Centres & Independent Schools
Transitioning school buses or staff vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs). Installing charging infrastructure on-site. This is a great use case for them as a lot are only used for picking up and dropping off at school and then are parked at the centre during the day when they could be charging.
Specific Benefits:
- Reduced Emissions: Lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, contributing to cleaner air in the local community, especially around school drop-off and pick-up zones.
- Lower Operating Costs: Electricity is typically cheaper than petrol or diesel, leading to savings on fuel and potentially lower maintenance costs for EVs.
- Educational Opportunities: Use EVs as a teaching tool about sustainable transportation and technology. Students can learn about the mechanics and environmental benefits of electric vehicles.
- Community Leadership: Demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and encourage the adoption of clean transportation within the community.
Learn more in Electric Vehicles Guide for Non Profits
Get Your Project Started
By implementing these technologies, childcare centres and non-profit charter schools can not only reduce their environmental impact and operational costs but also create healthier, more engaging learning environments for children.
Check out some of CORENA’s past projects around Australia:
Interest-Free Renewable Energy & Efficiency Loans for Educational Organisations
Here at CORENA We receive, record, and transparently report voluntary contributions from the public. We use that money to give interest-free loans to fund:
- Solar Panels
- Energy Efficiency
- Getting Off Gas – Replacement of fossil gas appliances with electric alternatives
- Electric Vehicles
- A combination of the above
You don’t pay any interest on your CORENA loan, and the quarterly loan repayments are set to be a little less than the savings on your operating costs averaged over a year. This means you are never out of pocket, but you don’t save much overall in the short-term. However, after your loan is fully repaid you reap the full financial benefit of having lower operating costs.
To learn more, check out how to apply for a loan, or register for one of our upcoming Online Q&A Information Sessions.
