Ecorazzi

We knew Cate Blanchett’s involvement in taking the Sydney Theatre Co. green would be huge — but we had no idea she would help drive installation of the largest capacity building-mounted solar array in Australia?!

The theatre group announced last week that it will be installing a 2,000 panel rooftop solar system to be completed by 2010. The project is expected to make The Wharf (the building where STC is housed) use 70% less energy from the grid. Funding for the 500KW array is coming from various government grants and organizations — including the chief executive of Suntech Power; who not only is supplying the panels, but is probably fishing for some star-studded publicity.

Overall, the entire green renovation is expected to cost somewhere around $3.7 million. Besides the solar, there will be efficiency upgrades in the use of energy and lighting — as well as a rainwater harvesting, storage and distribution system to supply all of The Wharf’s non-portable water. In other words, it’s a kick-ass eco-upgrade.

For more information, check out the official website for the greening effort here.