Huonville High reaps dividend from renewable energy push

A high school’s globally recognised renewable energy push has saved the Tasmanian Government tens of thousands of dollars – but that cash hasn’t found its way back into the school’s budget.

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LONG-term devotion to the cause of renewable energy could lead a budget boost for Huonville High School.

Premier Peter Gutwein jumped in his hybrid car to visit the southern high school yesterday to inspect its cutting-edge energy hub and spruik the govenrment’s environmental credentials.

Huonville High won a global award for its work on energy conservation in 2017 and the national Energy Globe Award this year.

School officials let slip, once or twice, that the school’s energy saving measures had saved government revenues $42,000, but sadly that money had not found its way back into the school budget.

As large monitors ticked over the savings from the school’s impressive solar arrays, Mr Gutwein promised he would look into the matter.

Climate activist Toby Thorpe speaks to the media at Huonville High School on August 6, 2020.

Former Huonville student Toby Thorpe helped set the school on its path and is now a full-time climate activist.

“What students are doing is using their, their own innovative skills, with mentors to help them realize the potential they have to change the world right here in our community,” he said.

“It comes from networking, engaging our community in events learning about energy efficiency learning about renewable energy, but also just putting themselves forward to say, ‘I can make a difference here in my own classroom’.”

Mr Gutwein said like Hounville High, the state had a good story to tell about emissions reduction and more measures were on the way.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein speaks to students at Huonville High School on August 6, 2020.

”I think it’s something that Tasmania, has not told the story well enough over time - for the last four years we have had net zero emissions compared to our 1990 at baseline, which is something that no other jurisdiction in this country and very few in the world have been able to achieve,” he said.

“In terms of our emissions in many cases we’ve seen lower emissions across the board in certain categories.

“Those that are increasing or increasing marginally, and importantly, to the time when our economy has grown by almost 80 per cent since 1990.

“So the net result is very positive.”

He said one of changes his government was considering was replacing the ministeral car fleet with hybrid vehicles.