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More than 300 solar panels have been installed across eight buildings at the Perth zoo, including the elephant barn, reptile enclosure and education classrooms, making the attraction the city's biggest solar photovoltaic (PV) site.

Unveiled the installation Western Australia's Environment Minister Bill Marmion explained that that the 90.9kW solar installation was expected to produce more than 120,000kWh of energy per year for use by the zoo.

Minister Marmion stated "the 303 solar panels are stage one of a two-stage $2.7 million installation project at Perth Zoo, jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.

"The zoo is committed to sustainability and conservation and will demonstrate to the broader community the economic and environmental benefits of wiser energy choices.

"Perth Zoo will be well positioned to showcase sustainable ways of living, with on-site educational material for its 630,000 annual visitors.

"We want to encourage people to install household solar energy systems to take advantage of Perth's high number of sunny day

"With about 300 sunny days a year, a typical 1.5kW household system in Perth saves about three tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, nearly the same amount produced by driving a car 40,000 kilometre."

Minister Marmion said Perth Zoo was chosen as one of five identifiable sites to showcase major solar installations as an environmentally-sustainable source of energy that reduced carbon emissions, as part of the Perth Solar City program.

The program is part of the Federal Government's $94million Solar City initiative and is challenging industry, business, governments and communities to come together and change the way they produce, use and save energy.

Western Power is managing the program and worked with the WA Government, Perth Zoo and SunPower to install the solar system.

26th March 2010 - STORM TAKES TOLL ON PERTH ZOO

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