Sustainability and Your Library

Wingecarribee Public Libraries and Wingecarribee Shire Council are undertaking a number of projects to minimise the Library's environmental impact.

Bowral Library Solar Panels

A 29.75kw solar power system was installed on the roof of Bowral Library in July 2014. Bowral Library is an ideal site for solar panels due to its large roof area which receives plenty of unobstructed sunlight. As the Library is located in the Bowral heritage precinct, the new solar panels have been flat mounted to minimise their visual impact.

The system is designed to reduce the Library’s annual carbon emissions by 38 tonnes and is estimated to save around $8000/year in electricity costs. It is expected that almost all the energy generated by the system will be used on site during the 6 days the library is open, with some electricity being fed back into the electricity grid on Sundays when the Library is closed.

Bowral Library Lighting Upgrade

Bowral Library completed a lighting upgrade in February 2013. This project involved replacing the existing light globes and fluorescent tubes with lights that achieve a similar lighting output, but using less electricity.

The upgrade is estimated to save 7167 kWh per annum (approximately $2,310 per year).

Mittagong Library Lighting Upgrade

Mittagong Library completed a lighting upgrade in 2012. This project involved replacing the existing light globes and fluorescent tubes with lights that achieve a similar lighting output, but using less electricity.

The upgrade is estimated to save 1959 kWh per annum (approximately $450 per year).