NEW grant funding is set to help two Riverland small businesses cut costs – and benefit customers – by reducing energy bills.
The Federal Government last month announced Loxton-based Yannakoudis Nursery would receive a $20,000 grant through the Energy Efficient Communities Program, with Berri-based business operator Matthew Chapple also receiving $9181.
Yannakoudis Nursery director Theo Yannakoudis said improving coolroom efficiency would cut his business’s energy costs by 30 per cent.
“We’re truly proud,” Mr Yannakoudis said.
“We’re going to upgrade the mechanism that runs the coolroom to be more efficient and cost effective.
“We’ll also have more precise control in the temperature.
“We will have about a 30 per cent saving from upgrading the compressors and the evaporative motors inside.”
Mr Chapple – who operates TM Aerial Applications – said the grant funding would be used to improve the irrigation practices on his Riverland vineyard.
“It will definitely make life a bit easier,” Mr Chapple said.
“The grant is for a pump and a variable speed drive and then for an electrician to wire it in, but on top of that we put in about $30,000 to (upgrade) from overhead drippers.
“I work away a lot and we travel all around Australia so having a more automated system is a lot nicer for us. We don’t have to organise people to go out and switch valves on or off, or to check sprinklers.
“It increases the water efficiency… and also our electrical use comes down because we’ve gone from a 30-kilowatt pump to a 15-kilowatt pump, because we don’t have to fill the capacity that the overheads needed.”
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said “small businesses like TM Aerial Applications and Yannakoudis Nursery will play a key role in our plan for a stronger economy” following the financial effects of COVID-19.
Mr Yannakoudis said his staff and customers would also benefit from the reduced business costs.
“It helps the business more than the operator… it flows onto the people who are helping us and the staff,” Mr Yannakoudis said.
“It helps the product being managed correctly in the coolroom, which means the customer receives a product where they won’t have any problems.
“It’s a business benefit and everybody benefits from a 30 per cent saving in power.
“We’re very thankful the forward-thinking of Mr Pasin is making these grants available for the local business community in Barker.”