In a major step toward a greener future, Mount Lilydale Mercy College has rolled out a series of sustainability upgrades across its expansive campus.
Efforts include installing water tanks for recycled water use, improving waste recycling infrastructure, and expanding green spaces — all part of a broader vision to embed environmental responsibility into its culture and curriculum.
Mount Lilydale Mercy College is a Catholic co-educational secondary school that is located in Melbourne’s outer east.
Founded in 1896 and serving the needs of more than 1500 students, the college recognises the importance of sustainable practices — not only for its future but for the environment.
Demonstrating statewide recognition, the College was recently honoured by Sustainability Victoria with a 5-star rating through the ResourceSmart Schools Awards.
It was also named the 2024 Secondary School Winner in the Community Leadership School – Fostering Responsible, Community-Oriented Citizens category.
In pursuit of reducing daytime energy usage and minimising carbon emissions, the college partnered with Solahart Eastern Ranges to upgrade its solar infrastructure.
Backed by strong ties to the local community, the family-operated solar company worked closely with the college to deliver tailored, campus-wide solutions.
“Our college has been working towards becoming more sustainable with initiatives such as building outdoor learning spaces, reducing waste and water usage, and creating more green spaces with our annual tree-planting day,” said Mount Lilydale Mercy College’s Assistant Business Manager, Cathy Pote.
“In partnership with Yarra Valley Water and Yarra Ranges Council, the students have been actively involved in a regeneration program to revive the natural ecosystem on the College’s leased sports ground, including indigenous vegetation, to increase native wildlife.”
“Given our energy consumption as a large College, we knew monitoring our usage and creating better energy efficiency was important, which is why Solahart was the clear choice as a partner.
“As well as upgrading our solar power, Solahart Eastern Ranges consulted on how we could monitor the patterns and peaks in our usage to conserve energy and identify waste,” Cathy explained.
The solar upgrade began with a full audit of the existing PV system. With 14 separate buildings across two electrical main feeds, it was clear that a comprehensive solution was needed.
Solahart Eastern Ranges installed 167 additional Solahart SunCell panels paired with GoodWe three-phase inverters, boosting the total system to 198kW of solar power capacity across the campus.
To further enhance the school’s energy management, Solahart Eastern Ranges collaborated with Combined Energy, undertaking the largest installation of its kind in Australia.
The system included the deployment of 14 power meters across the site, offering real-time monitoring of energy usage and supporting the College’s reporting to the ResourceSmart Schools Program.
“This project required a robust energy management system,” said Solahart Eastern Ranges’ General Manager, Mark Baker.
“The Combined Energy solution is simple, efficient and smart, and will allow Mount Lilydale Mercy College to monitor the grid and its solar energy usage in real time.
“Smart energy management is fundamental in the move towards a renewable future as no amount of solar will save you money at nighttime without supporting technology.
“Resources, such as energy management systems, are designed to complement renewable energy and maximise efficiencies.
Baker said the college is now well equipped to enhance its energy savings by pinpointing exactly where power is being used.
He noted that with access to precise data, Mount Lilydale Mercy College can shift its focus to educating staff and students on how small behavioural changes can make a meaningful impact.
He added that it’s been rewarding to see the college embrace the new technology not only for cost savings but also as a valuable teaching tool to promote energy awareness and conservation across the school community.
The solar investments are already making a positive impact. With an additional 75kW of Solar PV installed, the College anticipates savings of $21,475 and 77 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in the first year alone.
“We couldn’t be happier with this project and the seamless experience with Solahart Eastern Ranges,” Cathy Pote said.
“Incorporating this new technology provides students with first-hand experience of the benefits of renewable energy.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, we are excited to engage students in learning about energy consumption strategies using the monthly energy management system reports.
“We also look forward to growing our energy efficiency potential with the installation of additional PV panels in the coming years,” Pote concluded.
