Assistant Treasurer Robin Scott and Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio have toured the roof of Melbourne Museum, where hundreds of solar panels have been installed in a move to reduce their carbon footprint.

It is one of four Museums Victoria sites to have installed solar panels, saving more than 5,600 tonnes of greenhouse gas annually, thanks to:

• 1350 solar panels at Melbourne Museum, saving 635,308 kilowatt-hours per year
• 938 solar panels for Scienceworks, saving 465,749 kilowatt-hours per year
• 435 solar panels at the Moreland Annexe storage facility, saving 205,559 kilowatt-hours per year
• 20 solar panels at the Simcock Avenue storage facility, saving 9,672 kilowatt-hours per year.

All sites, including the Immigration Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building, have had energy efficient LED lighting installed.

All up, this will save Museums Victoria about $1.5 million a year and reduce their energy consumption by 30 per cent across the six sites.

The energy reductions are part of the $188 million Greener Government Buildings program, which is improving energy efficiency in government buildings – including schools, hospitals, sporting facilities and even freeways – and reducing greenhouse gas emissions across the state.

Since its introduction by the Labor Government in 2009, GGB has achieved $24 million in annual savings and an annual reduction of greenhouse gases of 128,000 tonnes.

Under the GGB program, projects pay for themselves over five to eight years.

Quote attributable to Assistant Treasurer Robin Scott

“We’re investing in the sustainability of some of our state’s most important cultural institutions – by cutting greenhouse gases we are also cutting costs and saving millions for our museums in years to come.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“We are leading by example to cut greenhouse gases and reduce our impact on the planet – this project is about identifying how we can be more carbon friendly and energy efficient within our own Government.”

Quote attributable to Museums Victoria Director Lynley Crosswell

“Our 2,700 solar panels – supported by the Greener Government Buildings program – are a huge contribution towards reaching our goals around greater sustainability.”