Solar Donor Powers Hutt St Centre

Hutt St Centre will be cutting its carbon emissions and working towards net zero, with two generous donors stepping forward to fund a solar panel system at the well-loved charity.

Donors Dr Jasper and Melissa Lee were keen to find a way to blend their commitment to helping Hutt St Centre end homelessness with their passion for environmental sustainability, donating $25,000 to cover the purchase and installation costs of a 29.04 KW solar system.

Through the solar power initiative, Hutt St Centre will be proactively contributing to the City of Adelaide’s Carbon Neutral Strategy, which aims to have zero net carbon emissions within the city community by 2025.

Hutt St Centre Chief Executive Chris Burns said the long-term savings on electricity bills – which are expected to be around $10,000 annually - would go directly into program delivery, supporting people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

“This innovative initiative demonstrates the power of partnership between philanthropists, for-purpose organisations, the private sector and local government,” Mr Burns said. “Great things can be achieved for both the environment and some of the most vulnerable people in our community when sectors come together for a common purpose.”

Along with Dr Jasper and Melissa Lee, the solar panel project was supported by Australia’s only solar panel manufacturer – Mawson Lakes-based Tindo Solar. Tindo significantly reduced the cost of its solar panels to support the project.

The Adelaide City Council also supported the program through its carbon neutral sustainability incentives scheme, by providing a $5,000 rebate.

Dr and Mrs Lee have been long-time supporters of Hutt St Centre and donors since 2019.

“We wanted to support Hutt St Centre in a way that benefits both people experiencing homelessness and environmental sustainability, by reducing carbon emissions,” Dr Lee said.

“The solar panels will not only reduce energy consumption, but they’ll save money for Hutt St Centre, which can be redirected to activities that will be of direct benefit to the most vulnerable people in our community. We believe that climate justice is social justice, and philanthropy that can amplify these benefits in conjunction with industry and government is a power to bring about long-term change”.