Sunny and share is go! It only took two days for a team of three Solarpro solar installers to add a 13.3 kW system to the roof of local charity Pioneer Clubhouse.

“We’re all thrilled to see the solar panels going on the roof,” says Megan Robert, recovery support worker at Pioneer Clubhouse. “It’s not just the financial benefit. Having up to $5000 extra a year will make a huge difference but we also love that we’re using clean, renewable energy to power our programs.”

Ann-Charlott Paduch of Zero Emissions Sydney North says, “the Community Giving Fund has always been an integral part of the Zero Emissions Sydney North mission, and it’s wonderful to be making our first installation after only 18 months of operation.

“Of course, we couldn’t have done this without the support of our hard-working management team, volunteers, donors, supporters and commercial partners. In particular, David Veal of Solarpro has been with us from the start, answering countless questions, giving us the benefit of his solar nerdiness, and pledging a percentage of every sale he makes through us to the Community Giving Fund.”

“The sun does it again,” says David Veal. “We’re proud to work with Zero Emissions Sydney North, helping people get on board with the renewable energy revolution. Our goal is to bring people’s energy bills as near to zero as possible.”

Zali Steggall MP will formally launch Pioneer Clubhouse’s new solar system at 1.30pm on Thursday June 10. Media are welcome: please get in touch via hello@zerosydneynorth.org.

The project is funded by our Community Giving Fund which receives contributions from our Solar My House partner, Solarpro, and our electricity retailer of choice, Diamond. You can also contribute to the project at Pioneer Clubhouse’s GoFundMe page.

Announcing our first Sunny and Share charity installation.

It looks like just another warehouse backing onto busy Balgowlah Road, but go through the gate and down the path and you find yourself in a little oasis. There’s a community garden, a cafe, and an open space with comfy chairs, work stations and quiet zones. There are friendly smiles and a warm welcome.

Pioneer Clubhouse is a safe, supportive, respectful community of people with lived experience of mental illness, based in Balgowlah on the Northern Beaches. It has been around for 25 years.  Members work side by side with staff in the running of the Clubhouse, to complete daily tasks in the kitchen, café, creative hub, garden and office. Through participation, members can rejoin the worlds of friendships, family, employment and education and have access to the services and support they individually need to continue their recovery. Each member is valued, needed and wanted.

A key part of Zero Emission Sydney North’s mission is Sunny and Share, a Community Giving Fund which feeds back donations from individuals and our business partners to benefit local charities. Zero Emissions Sydney North is thrilled to be working with Pioneer Clubhouse for our very first Sunny and Share charity install. The idea is that by lowering the Pioneer Clubhouse power bills on an ongoing basis, they will have more resources for their core programs for the life of the system. The installation is planned for May 2021.

Ann-Charlott, Solar My House program:

Right from the start, we felt rooftop solar could make a real, ongoing difference to charitable organisations in our area. I’m proud that our first installation is going ahead and I can’t wait to see their roof covered in solar panels!

The project is funded by our Community Giving Fund which receives contributions from our Solar My House partner, Solarpro, and our electricity retailer of choice, Diamond, generated from our public and private events. You can also contribute to the project at Pioneer Clubhouse’s GoFundMe page.