THE stage has been set for Logan businesses to become Australian leaders in the arena of clean energy consumption.
In an Australian-first initiative, the Clean Technology Business Cluster (CTBC) has selected Logan to run a pilot program whereby eligible businesses can reduce their energy consumption through the implementation of solar, LED lighting and other power-saving equipment with minimal up-front costs.
The pilot is being run by energy efficiency specialists Websters Group and there is a funding pool of $5 million available.
City Image Chairperson, Councillor Laurie Smith, said the CTBC pilot was an innovative approach to encourage local businesses to become more sustainable, environmentally and economically.
“We think it is fantastic that Websters Group has selected the City of Logan as the place to test out what could become a revolutionary energy saving finance model for businesses around the country,” he said.
“This model could be a win for businesses that make the decision to look for innovative ways to reduce their operational costs.”
Interested businesses are required to engage the Webster Group to audit their energy use and make a decision based on the best outcomes for their business.
Participating businesses stand to benefit from reduced electricity costs without having to pay for the majority of costs up front.
Cr Smith said energy saving projects could range in value from $50,000 up to $2 million provided the projects meet a certain criteria.
“The community benefits because the manufacturers and small to medium sized businesses in our city will adopt more sustainable operations, meaning less power consumption and, ultimately, less pollution,” he said.
Ryan Dillon, Managing Director of Websters Group, the company launching the CTBC pilot in Logan, said the upfront costs of installing the energy saving equipment were recouped via the savings participating businesses made on their energy bills.
“The funding model used in the pilot uses energy savings from the equipment itself to directly repay the upgrades,” he said.
“A percentage of savings are also given to the customer so the upgrade is cash flow positive from day one to incentivise uptake of energy saving projects.
“Reducing high energy bills goes straight to the bottom line and has the potential to significantly improve business resilience in the current economic environment.”