A qualified solar professional will discuss alternative energy at the Bermuda College on Thursday.

The free lecture, hosted by the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce and the Bermuda College, is the final Eco Lunch & Learn presentation of the season.

Nick Hutchings, a certified North American Energy Practitioner who volunteers with Sunny Side Solar, will highlight the advantages of solar energy to Bermuda.

Amy Harvey, an earth and environmental science lecturer at Bermuda College, said solar energy was an “ideal renewable energy source for our island that would be supported as one of the main components of our energy portfolio”.

She added: “This will take buy-in from the residents as well as top down support from the Government.

“Making it affordable and feasible will be the solution going forward.”

Jennifer Flood, BEST’s executive officer, said solar power in the Government’s low-cost housing facilities would keep household energy costs down and help the island reach Zero Carbon by 2030.

BEST said solar power was “a great investment”, that would pay for itself in five to eight years depending on self-consumption.

The group called it “great for the environment” with 150 tonnes less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the life of an average system.

It added that the energy was “great for public health”, “great for the economy”, and would cut the multimillion-dollar per year public health cost of burning oil and multimillion dollar per year cost of imported oil.

Refreshments will be served during the lecture, which will take place in the College’s Athene Room H100 from 1pm to 2pm and be followed by a Q and A session.

People can also tune into the presentation on Facebook and YouTube and e-mail aharvey@college.bm for more information.