The Bunning Farm at the intersection of Wollongong and St Kilda Streets is home to a sprawling three-acre solar roof, which is being built on top of the property’s former cattle shed.
The project has been dubbed ‘Renovate the Bamboo’, but it has also inspired many questions.
How does it work?
Why is it a green roof?
What are the environmental benefits?
And what are the potential financial and social impacts?
We’ve got answers to all of those questions.
“Renovates the bamboo” at the Buddings property on the corner of St Kildonan and St Wollongs streets in Melbourne’s inner west.
The solar roof is being installed by a company called Bamboo Solar, which was founded by former Bunninger business manager Mark Rigney.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to get our energy savings through solar,” Mr Rigny said.
“We’ve got a large parcel of land here and the rooftop can be used to power the house, the house’s battery, the fridge, all sorts of things.”
A sign on the property reads “Renovation Construction Loan”, with the BNNS building manager saying the “renovation project is not funded yet”.
Mr Rixon said he’d been approached by the property owners to install the roof on their property, but the company “had to go to a lot of hoops to get the roof”.
“It was very difficult for them,” he said.
He said the company was “very, very happy” with the project, and was considering doing more of them in the future. “
And then we just have to go in and get it installed and put the solar panels on there and then we’re off.”
He said the company was “very, very happy” with the project, and was considering doing more of them in the future.
“I think there’s a lot more we could do to help people get energy savings.”
He also said the “resilience” of the building was the “big benefit”.
“I’ve never seen a roof like this before,” he explained.
“The bamboo is really resilient, it’s going to be really tough for this one to come down.”
The bamboo roof is not the only solar project on the Bunkers property.
There’s also a rooftop garden on the site.
Mr Rixy said they were looking to build another rooftop garden soon.
“Right now we have a couple of other solar projects in the area,” he noted.
“But the bamboo roof was the main one.”
The solar project was the brainchild of former Bunny owner and Bunnisher’s chief executive officer, Mark Rixon, and his wife, Ann.
Mr Smedley said Mr Rurney’s experience in the industry gave him the right to help with the solar project.
“Mark Rignsey’s experience, having done so much, gives him a lot, and he’s a real person, and has a very positive outlook on the business,” he added.
“So we’ve had a very strong relationship with him for a long time.”
Mr Rinsly said he had spoken to Mr Rowney and the Breen owners over the years, and the business would continue to operate “as it has been for the last 25 years”.
“Mark has been very clear to us that we need to focus on this project,” he concluded.
“When the time comes, we’ll talk about other opportunities, but right now we’re concentrating on this one.” “
Follow Matt Bunt on Twitter: @mattbuntAAP”
When the time comes, we’ll talk about other opportunities, but right now we’re concentrating on this one.”
Follow Matt Bunt on Twitter: @mattbuntAAP