This weekend the West Coast Eagles will face their biggest test at the MCG, when they face off against Collingwood. But the Eagles have already won one flag – taking out top spot on Environment Victoria’s AFL Solar Ladder.
The Eagles were clear leaders in the pack of seven AFL clubs who’ve put solar on their grounds by installing a 300 kW system on their new training ground at Lathlain Park.
“As Victoria’s largest environment body, we’re as obsessed with football as anyone else in Melbourne. But we’re also obsessed with making sure that we have nice cold winters to enjoy our game and avoiding summers that are so hot that you can’t even consider kicking a footy, which is why we’re so focused on stopping climate change and increasing the amount of renewable energy across the country” Mark Wakeham, Environment Victoria CEO said.
“That’s why we’re so pleased that so many footy clubs have already taken steps to invest in renewable energy to clean-up their game and reduce their bills.
“The Eagles’ investment in a 300 kW system was heads and shoulders above other clubs. While it pains us to see the first AFL Solar Premiership go to an inter-state side, we’re pleased to see the Eagles have made such a massive investment.
The Eagles were clear leaders in the pack of seven AFL clubs who’ve put solar on their grounds by installing a 300 kW system on their new training ground at Lathlain Park.Click To Tweet“Nipping the heels of the Eagles were the Gold Coast Suns, who’ve installed an innovative solar ring around the roof of Metricon Stadium that can generate up to 215 kW and North Melbourne who have installed 200 kW on the roof at Arden Street oval.
“Western Australia was also represented in the finals by the Fremantle Dockers, who have installed 100 kW at their new training facility. GWS, Richmond and Essendon filled 5th, 6th and 7th, and after that the last spot in the Solar Finals is still up for grabs.
“While these seven clubs have embraced solar we’ve still got a lot of clubs who need to pull up their socks and start investing in clean energy.
“AFL clubs use an enormous amount of energy to power our wonderful game. Modern clubs have pools, training gyms and functions rooms that are used almost non-stop through the year. This makes footy grounds perfect venues for installing solar.
“AFL clubs play a leadership role in our communities and we hope that every club will make an investment in our kids’ future by repowering their operations over the next six months with clean, affordable solar power. We expect the 2019 season to be even more fiercely contested, both on the field and on the rooftops.
Dr Sheila Nguyen from the Environment and Sports Alliance welcomed the progress being made by AFL clubs:
“As the sport industry body who represents their voice in the environmental conversation, we are pleased to see our members, the West Coast Eagles, North Melbourne FC, and Greater Western Sydney being winners on the field as well as off the field.
“We hope to see more of our industry take the lead in protecting our clean future so we can continue to have places and spaces to do what we all love, watch and play sport” Dr Nguyen said.
