Newington, Sydney's first solar suburb

The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games brought more than just thousands of world-class athletes and good will to the harbour city. The event heralded a new age in sustainable urban development in Australia by incorporating strict environmental guidelines into the construction of the entire Olympic site. Right from the start Greenpeace was involved in the conception of a green Olympic Games.

Newington, now a residential suburb in Sydney's inner west, was constructed to house Olympic athletes during the 2000 Games. At the time it was the world's largest solar suburb, comprising 665 homes electrified with solar power systems. The Newington Athletes' Village is now home to Sydney residents keen to experience the environmental and financial benefits of solar energy.

"As a parent I wonder what kind of world we are going to leave for our children," says Newington resident and mother of 2, Anne Maree Payne. "Knowing that I am not being too much of an energy guzzler is a good feeling."

She and her family moved into a four-bedroom, freestanding Newington house and, after 12 months, already noticed the significant cost advantages of solar power. "We used to live in a very small two bedroom townhouse in [the Sydney suburb of] Annandale," she says. "This new house is twice the size of the old place and our quarterly power bill is half of what we used to pay. So we are very pleased about that."

Each Newington household saves about $800 per year in energy bills compared with conventionally powered households.

Newington has around 2000 dwellings. The energy requirements of this expanding Sydney suburb are almost entirely met by solar power. Renewable technology allows each house to become its own mini-power station. Solar power gets fed directly into the households' electrical system, with excess energy supplied back to the electricity grid.

Newington homes are each fitted with a solar water heater. Since approximately 40 per cent of total household electricity is used to heat water, solar water heating provides a viable, cost-effective, clean alternative to electric water heating, which is mostly sourced from polluting coal power stations. The solar hot water equipment and solar electricity system is integrated into the roof design of each house rather than bolted on top. This design overcomes obstacles such as building height restrictions and public concern about aesthetics. "We've got solar power and solar hot water so it makes a big difference for a big family," says Anne Maree.

Newington's home solar energy use is expected to save in excess of 2500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. That is the equivalent of taking 2500 cars travelling over 10,000 kilometres off the road each year. Such savings are an essential part of international efforts to reduce global warming gases.

Newington is an inspiring showcase of cost-effective renewable energy systems meeting everyday needs.

Inspired? Vist Solar House Day, an annual event showcasing passive solar house designs with guided tours.