Customer Story Archives - Page 12 of 14

Solar helps power Creswick Neighbourhood Centre

Solar will now help power Creswick Neighbourhood Centre thanks to a community energy initiative.

Catherine Anderson (Powershop), Tim Drylie (Transition Creswick), Jo Kaptein (The Hub Foundation), Kim Gilliott (Creswick Neighbourhood Centre), Taryn Lane (Hepburn Wind) and Marie Lakey (Hepburn Wind) at Creswick Neighbourhood Centre. Picture: Kate Healy.

A 3.24kW solar system installed on the roof of the neighbourhood centre is expected to generate 55 per cent of energy consumed on site.

The $5000 project was funded by energy retailer Powershop’s Your Community Energy Initiative in partnership with Hepburn Wind and Castlemaine based not-for-profit The Hub Foundation.

Hepburn Wind identified Creswick Neighbourhood Centre as an ideal candidate for the energy initiative because of their ongoing work with the local community.

By cutting electricity costs, these solar installations will help the neighbourhood centre focus on its work with the community, Powershop spokesperson Abbie Allen said.

Hepburn Wind community manager Taryn Lane said the money saved on electricity would help the neighbourhood centre work within the community.

These savings will unlock funds for community activities and are expected to cut four tonnes of CO2 each year, Ms Lane said.

Solar on community facilities is a great way to help our region reduce CO2 emissions and get on track to zero-net energy by 2025.

The Hub Foundation carried out the installation of the new solar panels.

It’s great to see community groups be part of the transition to a carbon-free future. We’re happy to have done our bit and we’re looking forward to doing much more, The Hub Foundation project officer Jo Kaptein said.

New solar panels installed at Creswick Neighbourhood Centre are expected to produce 55 per cent of electricity used on the site. Picture: Kate Healy.

Creswick Neighbourhood Centre manager Kim Gilliott said a commitment to lowering emissions and demonstrating environmental responsibility had been a long-term strategic goal for the centre.

A Hepburn Shire Council Carbon Free Action Workshop will be held in Daylesford on October 14 from 9.30am to 4.30pm at the Victoria Park Pavillion.

New MASH Solar Bulk-Buy Round to Launch October 2017

News update: A new round of MASH, the highly successful community solar bulk-buy, is set to launch by mid October 2017. It will offer high quality solar systems for households at competitive prices – backed by top notch product warranties and a quality installation process. It will be available to residents and businesses in Mount Alexander Shire, the Macedon Ranges Shire, the City of Greater Bendigo and Hepburn Shire.

To ensure you receive the launch email with details of this new round – please click here.

A percentage of the value of systems installed through this round will be donated to a community group or school within the area. If you know of a group who may be interested, please email The Hub Foundation at info@hubfoundation.org.au.

MASH is organised by the not-for-profit Hub Foundation in Castlemaine.

Ride to Work/School/Play. Free event!

Come to a celebration of cycling in our Shire! It’s time for the annual Ride to Work/Play/School brekkie celebration in Castlemaine – the same day as the National Ride to Work celebration.

Our Castlemaine event will be on Wednesday 18th of October at Winters Flat Primary School – a new location for us and an opportunity we hope to reach out more widely to people within our community.

This is a free event and will be fun for all. It is organised by The Hub Foundation (the crowd behind the MASH community solar bulk-buy project), partners and friends.

No need to register. Just come on down!

Hub Foundation makes climate change pledge

The Hub Foundation has committed to the Victorian Government’s climate change pledge, TAKE2.

TAKE2 is Victoria’s collective climate change action to help Victoria reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

TAKE2 gives all Victorians – businesses, local councils, community service organisations, educational institutions, families and individuals – an opportunity to be part of Victoria’s action on climate change.

The Hub Foundation is a founding partner of TAKE2 and has taken the universal pledge:

Working together, we pledge to play our part and take action on climate change for Victoria, our country and our planet.

As part of the pledge, The Hub Foundation will encourage and promote the following:

Installation of solar PV on rooftops of houses, and business and community buildings
People actively using low carbon modes of transport such as bicycles
Installation of vegetable wicking beds on footpaths

To view our full pledge and to make your own pledge, visit take2.vic.gov.au.

Pensioner solar scheme – sign up by 31 Oct 2017!

Pensioners in Mount Alexander Shire can sign up to Solar Savers before the end of October.

Do you know any pensioners in Mount Alexander Shire with a pension card and no solar? Or are you one?

If so, check out the Solar Savers program which is being delivered across Central Victoria – including our Shire – through a collaboration of 20 councils and Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, together with funding support from State Government.

But don’t delay as the last date for signing up is coming up soon – Tuesday 31st October.

Call the Solar Savers team on (03) 9385 8512 or visit www.solarsavers.org.au.

The program works by offering pensioners a special low-interest loan that has no upfront costs and is gradually paid off over 10 years by power bill savings.

“Solar Savers is a fantastic program that helps pensioners to not only save money, but also lower their carbon footprint,” said Ben Bowman, Manager Healthy Environments, Mount Alexander Shire Council.

“It is anticipated that every participating household will be at least $100 better off at the end of each year than they would be without the solar system,” said Mr Bowman.

“This means that after the ten year loan period, each household is at least $1,000 better off and owns a solar system outright,” he said.

The solar system brings peace of mind to pensioners to help them stay comfortable in extreme heat by running their fan or air conditioner without so much concern about the electricity bill.

“We know that pensioners have a lot to gain from solar power – many own their homes and use most of their power when the sun is shining,” said Mr Bowman.

“We encourage you or your loved ones to make the most of this opportunity and sign up before the cut-off date of Tuesday 31 October,” he said.

This is not a project through the Hub Foundation or the MASH community solar bulk-buy but it is a project that we fully support.

We encourage anyone who thinks that they may be eligible to get in touch with the Solar Savers team on (03) 9385 8512 or www.solarsavers.org.au.

St Francis of the Fields Makes the Switch

St Francis of the Fields switches to solar with MASH — “I love solar panels. They provide us with free electricity from the sun and help our environment be safer for us all”. Harry Norman, Prep at St Francis of the Fields Primary School, near Bendigo. Photo credit: Reel Air Imagery.

St Francis of the Fields Primary School has teamed up with MASH (More Australian Solar Homes) and The Hub Foundation Castlemaine to install solar panels to reduce their energy bills by 50%.

One of the largest primary schools in the region goes solar

St Francis of the Fields is located in Strathfieldsaye, Bendigo and is one of the largest primary schools in the region with just over 550 students. Named after St Francis of Assisi the school sits on 28 acres of farming and sporting fields and has dedicated its curriculum to learning about living more sustainably whilst guiding their students to be their best, be safe, respect for all and their environment.

220 panels installed

As part of this program the school has installed 220 solar panels on their Gymnasium Centre, which accounts for 64 kW of free green clean energy.

MASH supported the process

School Principal Tim Moloney says that the large roof of the Gymnasium Centre is the perfect place for solar panels to generate clean solar electricity, reduce costs and make a lasting impression on our students and wider community.

It’s been a pleasure working with the not for profit group The Hub Foundation via their MASH project. They have supported us through the process that has allowed an increase in our schools capacity for clean solar electricity for our school.

Not only will these systems contribute to the environmental impact of our community but the cost savings will contribute to the financial stability of our school. Over $100,000 of solar panels* have been installed on the shed roof and we have committed to a 3 year lease where we pay $22,000 per year. With the expected cut to our power bills will be $14,500, we will only pay $7,500 per year for 3 years and then we will own all solar equipment, says Mr. Moloney.

Solar is just the first step

Mr. Moloney says that the savings won’t finish there.

We are committed to the ongoing reduction of our carbon footprint and energy bills. The solar is the first step. We have also replaced all high bay and fluro lights inside our gymnasium with LED lighting. Next will be to convert 400 fluro lights inside the main school building to LED. I can’t wait to see the savings and to see the students become involved in the daily monitoring of solar generation, cuts to our energy consumption and become more environmentally aware.

Students excited

The St Francis students are also excited about what it means to have solar panels in their school and how they can be involved.

The solar and LED lights use less energy but the lights are brighter and turn on and off faster than the old ones. – Gil Neilson Grade 3

I love solar panels. They provide us with free electricity from the sun and help our environment be safer for us all. Harry Norman Prep.

If you would like more information about this story or would like to arrange a visit to the school please contact Rebecca Norman at 0438 934 018 or email at bec@friendlysavage.com.

The MASH community bulk buy is now open in City of Greater Bendigo and the shires of Mount Alexander and the Macedon Ranges. Visit mash.org.au to learn more and to register for a quote.

*Note: This is the value of the solar system before deducting the value of the Small-scale Technology Certificates.