Autumn Lodge has installed two, one-hundred-kilowatt systems, reducing the nursing home’s monthly power bill by $4000 to $5000.

It is one of the largest solar systems in the city and was given the green light after a feasibility study last year concluded it would meet the facility’s payback criteria.

Business and housing services manager Greg Clarke said they had been looking at solar power for many years.

“Once the prices came down, it just made it more affordable,” he said.

“We’re really happy with the system.

“It’s proved its worth so far.

“We are probably saving about 10,000 kilowatt-hours per month.”

Smart Commercial Solar conducted the install and their managing director Huon Hoogesteger said it was a very sophisticated system.

“Each solar panel has a micro inverter under it, and so every panel performs in its own right,” he said.

“In older systems, if you have a defective panel in there, all the panels perform at the lowest panel’s level.”

The system is also completely fire proof

The panels are also remotely monitored in real time and are currently meeting around 25 to 30 per cent of the aged care home’s energy needs.

“All energy produced is consumed on site, Mr Clarke said.

“It is more cost effective than producing a surplus for feeding to the grid.”

Mr Clarke said another benefit of converting to solar was the funds it freed up for installing reverse cycle air conditioning.

“We’re basically geared for cold weather here,” he said.

“And with the warmer summers we are now having, we are having to look at cooling too.

“So with the reduction of our power bill we are now conducting a program to retrofit air conditioning to both facilities.

“At the moment it’s just open windows and fans in summer.”