Australian solar company Smart Commercial Solar has completed the installation of a 400 kW solar system at Scholastic’s Gosford distribution centre in New South Wales.
Scholastic IT Manager Daniel Grim stated: “We run 24/5, so we consume quite a fair bit of energy to run the facility, [so] bringing solar into the organisation was always going to offer quite a significant saving for us.”
The Gosford distribution centre has a multi-level structure and is always powered during the week, as up to 200 staff worked there 24 hours a day, five days a week in shifts.
Scholastic is currently awaiting final projects from Ausgrid to determine just how much the system is saving on energy costs and reducing emissions — however, the children’s book publisher has voiced that they are considering the implementation of more energy storage solutions to maximise ROI and reduce more emissions.
“We were always on the lookout as to where we can contribute to the sustainability of the environment.
“That’s why we started looking at solar energy as an area that we could help improve the environment and do our part,” said Grim.
Scholastic currently engages in a broad suite of environmentally responsible practices, including:
- Printing catalogues with printers who utilise eco-friendly practices.
- Using renewable inks and 100 per cent PEF FSC-certified paper from plantation forests.
- Implementing 100 per cent recyclable and biodegradable packaging.
- Collecting 200,000 litres of rainwater on-site.
- Installing LED lighting in their facilities.
- Employing dedicated paper recycling bins throughout their site.
