South Australian Councils team with ZEN Home Energy Systems to support renewable energy

Six South Australian metropolitan Councils are set to champion renewable energy solutions to communities as a result of a 12-month pilot scheme established by the SA Local Government Association with ZEN Home Energy Systems .

The metropolitan pilot includes the Councils of Holdfast Bay, Marion, Onkaparinga, Playford, Port Adelaide-Enfield and West Torrens.

LGA Executive Director, Wendy Campana said the Councils would offer an introduction to renewable energy via forums and written information and the ZEN home energy system franchise would provide a free assessment and quote specific to individual home-owners requirements.

“The LGA and Councils are absolutely committed to promoting renewable energy through our climate change strategy and we believe this initiative will deliver results,” Ms Campana said.

The metropolitan pilot follows last year’s successful regional program led by Victor Harbor and involving eight other Councils. Data from the Victor Harbor program shows 800 participating home owners are generating power savings estimated at $250,000 and reducing carbon emissions by 1,170 tonnes each year.

Ms Campana said the pilot project will be managed by the LG Corporate Services Group which undertook a due diligence process of the ZEN home energy system franchise's operations within the renewable energy industry. ZEN was recently awarded the Municipal Association of Victoria’s Award of Excellence for Sustainability.

“Following the successful regional program, ZEN approached the LGA for a coordinated approach to a metropolitan pilot,” Ms Campana said.

“The LGA noted ZEN’s accredited training program for local tradespeople to install solar systems, the company’s track record of partnering with Local Government in SA and Victoria, and its commitment to research and development within the renewable energy industry," said Ms Campana.

ZEN Home Energy Systems will be providing a contribution of between $100 and $200 for each unit sold during the pilot. The money will be retained in a research and development fund to be managed by the LGA.

“ZEN are also committed to ongoing data assessment and include in their offerings a monitoring arrangement to provide information back to home-owners and for aggregate research,” Ms Campana said.

Ms Campana said the arrangements with the ZEN home energy system franchise group were transparent and that individual home-owners would need to make their own decisions about products offered by ZEN.