Yarra City Council tackles climate change head on with upgrades to ECEC facilities

Yarra City Council has taken on a series of upgrades to the Richmond Multicultural Children’s Centre which are designed to address the ‘climate emergency’ head on. 

Council is investing more than $27,000 to improve sustainability and energy efficiency at the site with new solar and electric appliances. The joint project, which received $12,500 in funding from the Victorian Government, will also help local early childhood education and care (ECEC) operator Sparkways to reduce its overheads with lower electricity bills and expenses.

Yarra Mayor Sophie Wade described the initiative as “a real and tangible way in which Council is addressing the climate emergency.”

“Initiatives like this will help us achieve our goal of net zero in the Yarra community by 2030 and, importantly, improve the long-term financial sustainability of community groups across Yarra,” Councillor Wade said.

Upgrades to the Richmond Multicultural Children’s Centre include:

o 16kW solar 

o Induction (electric) cooktop replacing gas cooker 

o Electric hot water system replacing gas hot water system

The initiative was one of seven across the City of Yarra which received funding under the Victoria’s Government’s Community Climate Change and Energy Action program. 

Some of the other initiatives include:

• Solar installation at Walker St Community Kindergarten
• Energy efficient facility upgrades and Solar installation at Clifton Childcare Cooperative

To learn more about practical sustainability tips in ECEC please see here.