With energy prices on the rise across the state, some Lake Cargelligo residents have been given a greener alternative.
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The Aboriginal Housing Office (AHO) has recently finished installing solar panels on 22 homes in town.
Lake Cargelligo resident Betty Biggs said the solar panels have already helped her enormously.
“It’s been good. I’ve made some savings. I was happy with it. It came down from over $1000 to around $200,” she said.
“I feel like the panels have done their job. They’ve also given us a few tips to save power.”
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AHO Chief Executive Shane Hamilton said the panels were being installed in homes across the state.
“We’re looking to go through and make things more sustainable, but we’re also looking at ways we can reduce energy prices for our residents.”
The project is expected to be completed in December 2018 with solar panels being installed by two Aboriginal companies.
“We’re about a third of the way through the installation process. It’s also creating employment opportunities. An apprentice was actually taken on through one of the companies.” he said.
“We’re using Indigenous owned and operated businesses to install the panels as well.”
The installation is part of a larger $13 million project jointly funded by the AHO and the Office of Environment and Heritage.
The AHO has also been funding education sessions called Bring Your Bills Day in partnership with Origin Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW focusing on reducing energy use in the home and access to support programs and services.