76 new MASH customers in just 31 days – .just awesome!
MASH is going gangbusters. We’re now on 76 new MASH customers since this round started on 31 October. It’s just incredible and is certainly the most successful round of a bulk-buy (so far) that we’ve run. Thanks to everyone who’s getting behind this round of MASH and spreading the word!!
And a HUGE thank you to Nat Stegmann and the team at the MASH solar supplier, Energy Matters who have worked to 9pm the last few nights to call people back to provide them with quotes.
The MASH community solar bulk-buy has just hit 50 new customer orders. That’s 50 new solar households in less than 30 days since the current round launched on 31 October 2017.
“It’s going gangbusters!” says Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation. “We’ve been blown away by the amazing level of interest in this round of the bulk-buy. People just seem to be realising that solar makes sense both financially and environmentally. Solar is now totally mainstream.”
“And with so many systems going ahead through the MASH project, that’s great news for our community too as we’ll be able to donate another free solar system soon to a community group or school in our area”, said Jo Kaptein. “Please email me at info@hubfoundation.org.au if you are involved in a community group or school who would be interested in applying for the next free MASH community solar system.”
Federal Government changes to Renewable Energy Certificates mean that value of the Government financial subsidy for solar will fall, resulting in a price increase for all solar systems in 2018. To avoid the price increase of around 6.5%, systems must be installed by 31 December 2017.
Households and businesses who are interested in getting a solar system through the MASH Community Solar Bulk-Buy and want to avoid this price increase, will need to place their order by 30 November 2017,” said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at The Hub Foundation, the not-for-profit organiser of the MASH Community Solar Bulk-Buy.
This is to ensure that our solar provider, Energy Matters, can install your system prior to the 31 December cut-off date.
To help local residents and businesses decide whether now is the right time to invest in solar, we will be holding an Info Meeting on Thursday 16 November from 7-8.30pm at the Castlemaine Town Hall”, said Jo Kaptein.
At the meeting, you will find out about the solar and battery systems on offer – including the Tesla Powerwall 2. We’ll have a solar expert from our solar provider, Energy Matters, at the event ready to answer questions about the systems, what they cost and the payback,” said Kaptein.
MASH Partner, Mount Alexander Shire Council
We are delighted to have Mayor Bronwen Machin, Mount Alexander Shire Council, opening this event. We also acknowledge our other local partners who include Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group and Bendigo Sustainability Group,” said Kaptein.
MASH is a grassroots project set up by the not-for-profit Hub Foundation in Castlemaine. It was set up to help tackle climate change by cutting CO2 emissions.
Register your place for the MASH Info Meeting at www.mash.org.au or call MASH on 1300 466 274.
MASH Supporters at MASH’s ‘Home’ – The Hub Building, Castlemaine
Community solar bulk-buy, the campaign for More Australian Solar Homes – known as MASH – is kicking goals when it comes to cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Since it started in 2014, MASH has cut CO2 emissions by more than 4000 tonnes annually, equal to 800 fewer cars. It has also installed over 20kW of free solar systems for community groups and schools.
“This has been achieved because of the amazing support of residents in our region who’ve got behind the project and installed solar,” said Jo Kaptein, project officer at the Hub Foundation, the Castlemaine-based not-for-profit organisers of MASH.
“The uptake has been enormous – now over 700 households have gone solar with MASH. And households are benefitting too with bill savings of around $500,000 each year.
“With feed-in tariffs more than doubled since July and electricity prices on the rise, going solar makes sense for an increasing number of households and businesses.”
Ms Kaptein said a change in the government financial subsidy for solar would mean that the price for solar systems will increase by 6.5 per cent from January 1, 2018.
“So with our current MASH bulk-buy, we’re holding prices until November 30 to ensure that people can get their systems installed before the end of December and benefit from the current lower prices.”
The Hub Foundation is proud to acknowledge the supports of its partners including Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Macedon Ranges Shire Sustainability Group.
The new round of MASH, which was launched on October 31, offers solar PV systems as well as battery storage in the form of the Tesla Powerwall 2.
A MASH information meeting will be held on November 16 at the Castlemaine Town Hall from 7-8.30pm. Alternatively visit mash.org.au or call 1300 466 274 to find out more.
A new round of the MASH Community Solar Bulk-Buy launched on 31 October 2017. Called MASH 3.2, this round offers high quality solar and battery storage systems including – for the first time through MASH – the Tesla Powerwall 2. Whilst primarily designed for households, the MASH project can provide tailored solar solutions for businesses, schools and other organisations.
The Hub Foundation, the not-for-profit organiser of the MASH Bulk-Buy, is delighted to be working with Energy Matters as the solar supplier and installer for this round. The MASH project is also supporting local installers, such as Universal Power & Light in Castlemaine, who are working under contract to Energy Matters to do many of the MASH installations in our area.
MASH is going from strength to strength thanks to the support of residents, businesses, Councils and sustainability group partners in the region. Since MASH started in 2014, the project has achieved:
700+ residential solar rooftop installations
Cut CO2 emissions by 4,000 tonnes per year (equal to 800 cars off the road)
Cut household electricity bills by $500,000 annually
Donated over 20kW of free solar systems to six community groups and schools
The MASH team is currently seeking expressions of interest for the next free MASH community bonus system – so if you are involved in a community group or school and you think they would benefit from going solar, please get in touch with the MASH organisers at info@hubfoundation.org.au.
The Hub Foundation is proud to acknowledge the supports of its partners including Mount Alexander Shire Council, Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Shire Sustainability Group, Bendigo Sustainability Group and Hepburn Wind.
For more information about MASH 3.2 including pricing, visit mash.org.au or call the MASH team on 1300 466 274
The Castlemaine Lions Club has just got lucky with a new 5.4kW solar system that cost them only $1,260. The rest of the system was paid for with a $1,400 donation from the MASH community solar bulk-buy and a $3,000 grant from Mount Alexander Shire Council’s community grants program.
A three-way partnership gets a good result for solar and the environment. From L to R: Mayor Bronwen Machin, Mount Alexander Shire Council, Ken McKimmie, Vice President the Lions Castlemaine, Jo Kaptein, Project Officer, The Hub Foundation and the MASH project. Photo Credit: Ashley Tracey
But the luckiest winner is the local community. That’s because the savings from lower electricity bills will go straight back to local groups – to the tune of around $1,000 per year for the next 25 years.
“We went solar for two reasons, to support renewable energy and to save money, said Ken McKimmie, Vice President of the Lions Castlemaine. “We use a fair bit of power to run the fridges and vans for our catering and we want to become more energy efficient. We got in touch with MASH to get a quote and were rapt – not only was the quote competitive but the MASH team said they’d be happy to chip in to bring down the cost. This is a terrific win for our community. Thanks MASH and thanks Council!
“We love the work the Lions does in our community”, said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation in Castlemaine, the not-for-profit organisers of the MASH community solar bulk-buy. “They raise around $60,000-$70,000 each year which is distributed to local groups to support those in need within our community, as well as good causes. We had some money in our community bonus kitty from the current round of MASH and we thought the Lions would be a very worthy recipient. It’s great to know that every cent saved by going solar is going straight back to our community.”
The Lions solar installation is the sixth solar system donated to community groups and schools through the MASH community solar bulk-buy. Other recipients of MASH community bonus systems are Castlemaine North Primary School (5.4kW), Newstead Community Centre (5kW), Newham Primary School (5kW) and Castlemaine Housing Service (4kW).
The system was installed by Solargain, a large Australian-owned solar company responsible for installations for the most recent round of the MASH community solar bulk-buy. Approval for the installation has been received from Heritage Victoria as the Lions Club Castlemaine is on land that has a heritage overlay. For more information about MASH visit www.mash.org.au
The MASH community solar bulk-buy has just hit 50 new customer orders. That’s 50 new solar households in less than 30 days since the current round launched on 31 October 2017.
Federal Government changes to Renewable Energy Certificates mean that value of the Government financial subsidy for solar will fall, resulting in a price increase for all solar systems in 2018. To avoid the price increase of around 6.5%, systems must be installed by 31 December 2017.
A new round of the MASH Community Solar Bulk-Buy launched on 31 October 2017. Called MASH 3.2, this round offers high quality solar and battery storage systems including – for the first time through MASH – the Tesla Powerwall 2. Whilst primarily designed for households, the MASH project can provide tailored solar solutions for businesses, schools and other organisations.
