As highlighted last month, Councils could in fact reduce their carbon footprint, decrease temperatures in their jurisdiction whilst catering for the increase in demand for useable and healthy green space via intelligently designed, functional green spaces.

But we all know that creating a lush, thriving green space normally comes at a cost of irrigation and pumping plus the environmental costs associated with that.

According to the International Energy Agency, 2010, “Pumps account for a massive 10% of the world’s total electricity consumption, and far too much is pure waste”.

Through the use of progressive and efficient irrigation methods such as Solar Powered Pumps and Variable Speed Drive Pumps it is possible to use a minimum amount of energy to deliver the required, and highly desirable, green outcome.

Solar Powered Pumps

Traditionally water is transferred by pumps driven by electricity or fossil fuels – not a method an environmentally-focused council would want to adopt at this moment in time.

Solar pumps for water transfer systems are simple to install and almost maintenance free. Via a level switch the system will run whenever it has enough UV capacity to drive the pump and will simply switch off at the level you set.

And did you know relatively affordable solar powered pump systems are able to pump up to 250m head?

With improvements in technology, solar costs declining and traditional power costs heading in the opposite direction, the case for installing solar powered in Australia has never been stronger.

With fewer solar panels being required and with the cost of the individual panels falling, the initial capital cost of a solar system is getting far more competitive.

When compared to a conventional diesel or electricity powered pump, the typical payback time from the initial purchase of a solar pumping system is approximately 18 months. From then on, you’ll have lower servicing costs, operating costs and no fuel or electricity use – which is great for the environment and great for your bottom line!

Variable Speed Drive Pumps

A Variable Speed Drive pump (VSD), uses a minimum amount of energy, to deliver the required outcome.  For example, a toilet flush in the Yarra Valley using a conventional pump requires the pump to turn on and run at maximum speed to deliver water to fill the cistern.  A VSD pump will only use the minimum amount of energy required to fill the cistern. 

With the latest VSD technology, it’s not uncommon to save up to 50% on power usage, compared to a conventional pump. The reduced carbon footprint associated with this reduction in electricity usage clearly demonstrates that installing the right VSD pump is the responsible choice given today’s climate concerns.

Good quality VSD pumps such as Grundfos, Lowara or Onga aren’t cheap, but when you consider that the purchase price only accounts for around 4% of the total overall lifetime cost, it makes environmental and financial sense to install quality.

As you can see, energy costs account for 86% of all money spent on a pump over its lifetime, and with energy prices continuing to skyrocket you need to do all you can to reduce that component.

When you purely consider the electricity savings on a VSD pump, the payback on investment is traditionally in the realm of 2 – 2.5 years. Not a bad ROI – whilst helping the planet.

In summary it is well worth considering energy efficient VSD Pumps or Solar Powered Pumps to replace existing equipment and for any new projects in the pipeline (pardon the pun).

If you want to hear more about these pumps and their suitability for your projects, particularly Solar Powered Pumps, you contact us below, and you’ll hear back from one of our pump specialists.  Or call our office on (03) 9735 9077.