Energy saving starts young

THE Rosewood and District Community Kindergarten is the proud new owner of solar panels installed under the State Government Solar Kindergarten Program.

Ben and Isabella from the C & K Kindergarten in Rosewood are happy the centre will now be harnessing the power of the sun with new solar panels. . Picture: Rob Williams

FUN in the sun will take on a new meaning at the Rosewood and District Community Kindergarten.

The kindy is the proud new owner of solar panels installed under the State Government Solar Kindergarten Program.

Rosewood Kindergarten co-director Debbie Brown said the panels would be a boost.

"The solar panels will be a great way of saving money for us on electricity," she said.

"It will really help with our electricity bill for sure."

Education minister Cameron Dick said the Solar Kindergarten Program would help them become increasingly sustainable.

"Kindergartens play an important role in a child's development and this program will help make them more sustainable over time, both financially and environmentally," he said.

"I am pleased that these C&K services throughout Queensland will receive solar power units to help create sustainable learning and play environments for our children.

"As well as reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced by each kindergarten, these solar panels will help reduce the service's annual electricity bills by up to $400.

"This is good news for parents and kindergarten operators, who will be able to use the savings for more resources for children."

Labor member for Ipswich West Wayne Wendt said the installation of the panels was a great step for the Rosewood Community Kindergarten.

"The Solar Kindergartens program is a win-win situation - our kindergartens will save money and our children will be attending more sustainable services that are helping to save the planet," Mr Wendt said.

The new panels are the latest in a series of upgrades for the kindy that received more than $31,000 from the Gambling Community Benefit fund for a new kitchen and office and a grant from the Rosewood office of the Bendigo Bank to repaint their building.

"We've just been so fortunate this year," Ms Brown said.

"We've received these three grants and it's just helped us out so much."

The Rosewood Kindergarten was one of a number in the region to benefit from the solar panel program along with kindies in Laidley, Toogoolawah, Lowood, Karrabin, Yamanto and Karalee.

Originally published as Energy saving starts young