DUNGOG solar sleuth and sustainability advocate Ken Rubeli has a keen interest in rooftop solar.
He recently delved deeper to discover how many Dungog homes and businesses were harnessing this energy.
Mr Rubeli recently surveyed 400 homes across Dungog and noted that 109 had rooftop photovoltaic panels, which he says suggests that 27 per cent of residences draw a substantial portion of their energy needs from the sun.
To survey rooftop solar usage on non-residential buildings, Mr Rubeli resorted to dated imagery on Google Maps but even these photographs from 2024 showed that a number of Dungog establishments were tapping into the sun’s power.
These businesses included Dungog Bowling Club, the Dungog Memorial RSL, Lovey’s IGA, the Bank and the Royal Hotels, Dungog & District Neighbourcare, Irwins (now Pearl Energy), The Medical Practice, Dungog Wholefood Co-op, and the Council’s Works Depot, the Visitor Information Centre and Dowling Street offices.
“It’s a common story that businesses pay off their investment in rooftop solar in five or six years,” Mr Rubeli said.
“And with smart energy usage in the home the payback period can be even shorter.”
David French is Operations Manager at Lovey’s IGA.
“We see it as a matter of sustainability as well as profitability,” Mr French said.
“It’s appropriate that we show a preparedness to invest towards the community’s and the country’s low-carbon future.”
Dungog’s grandest solar array is at the Hunter Water Corporation Water Treatment Plant on Short Street, where half an acre of land beside the administrative building now hosts a small solar farm of more than 700 frame-mounted photovoltaic panels.
This meets much of the plant’s daytime power usage.
Josie Hopkins, who has rooftop solar on her home in Mackay Street, epitomises the householder prepared to invest with a long-term view.
“I put on 24 panels and that wasn’t cheap,” Ms Hopkins said.
‘But it has brought me lower electricity bills and it has enhanced my property value.
“And as a family we can turn on the airconditioning in the summer, knowing our comfort is coming as ‘something for nothing’ from the sun.”
Mr Rubeli has organised a free information and discussion event, coined $olar$avers, which will be held at Dungog’s Doug Walters Pavillion on 26 September.
“Experts from the Renew Hunter Region Branch are volunteering to share their knowledge on installation of domestic rooftop solar and home batteries,” Mr Rubeli said.
“There’ll be valuable advice on simple home improvements to help reduce energy wastage and save money.
“There will also be stories from local people, like Josie, who have already embarked on their solar-power journey.
It is a free event, with plenty of time for questions.”
For more information, contact Ken Rubeli on 0439 242 776.
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