Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the not-for-profit Hub Foundation (organisers of MASH) and Tony Smith, Managing Director of MASH solar installer, Sunergy, taking questions in Bendigo
Over 120 people have attended the first three MASH info meetings to hear at first hand about the community solar bulk-buy that is currently available in the shires of Mount Alexander, Macedon Ranges and the City of Greater Bendigo.
Tonight, a good crowd is expected at the MASH info meeting at the Strathdale Community Centre in Bendigo to hear and interest is high for two more meetings next week in Woodend and Central Bendigo.
We find that our community info meetings are really popular. People come along to meet the team behind the bulk-buy – both from the Hub Foundation and our installer, Sunergy – and to find out all about the systems on offer. The Q&A at the end is always interesting and lively, said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation.
MASH info meeting in Eaglehawk with over 30 people attending
We are holding ten more info meetings between now and the end of October and, judging on what’s happened so far, we expect them all to be pretty well attended.
The next three meetings are:
Strathdale Community Centre, Wednesday 7 September, 6.00-7.30pm
Woodend Neighbourhood House, Tuesday September 13, 6.00-7.30pm
Bendigo Central Library, Wednesday 14 September, 6.00-7.30pm
For the full list of info meeting, visit our web page here.
MASH fun for the kids at Woodend Farmers’ Market on Saturday the 3rd of September. This photo booth was created for MASH by Castlemaine Artists, Judy Laycock and Alice Steele. It will be making its next appearance at the Bendigo Farmers’ Market on Saturday 10 September!
The MASH team are out and about at markets in the coming two months spreading the word about the MASH community solar bulk-buy.
This Saturday the 10th of September, MASH will have stalls at both the Kyneton Farmers’ Market and Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market. Tony Smith, the Managing Director of the MASH solar supplier, Sunergy will be at the Kyneton Farmers’ Market and Jo Kaptein, Project Officer of the not-for-profit Hub Foundation, organisers of the MASH bulk-buy will be at the Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market.
“The MASH bulk-buy is a community initiative. So being out and about in the community is a really important part of what we do. So if you are at one of these markets, we’d love it if you dropped by for a chat,” said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation, the not-for-profit organisers of MASH.
Other markets that MASH will be attending with a stall include:
Woodend Farmers’ Market, Saturday 1 October
Gisborne Oaks Market, Sunday 2 October
Kyneton Farmers’ Market, Saturday 8 October
Bendigo Community Farmers’ Market, Saturday 8 October
Castlemaine North Primary School celebrates news that it will be the recipient of the next free MASH community bonus system in Mount Alexander Shire
Students and staff at Castlemaine North Primary School have celebrated the news that they are set to receive a free 5kW solar PV system which will cut the school’s electricity bill by around $2,000 each year.
The 20 panel system will be donated to the school by the MASH community solar bulk-buy once 100 homes in the Mount Alexander Shire have solar installed through the current round.
Bill savings will directly benefit students and staff. “The school will use the first year’s bill savings to purchase blinds for two classrooms in the senior building. This will reduce the temperature and glare in the classrooms making it more comfortable for the students. At the moment in summer, they have to leave these classrooms on sunny days and work elsewhere because the glare is too bright,” says Cheryl Neilson, President, Castlemaine North Primary School Council.
This system will be the fifth free community bonus system donated to local schools and community groups through the MASH community solar bulk-buy since it started in 2014.
“Electricity bills at Castlemaine North Primary are pretty high, despite the fact they already have a solar array,” said Jo Kaptein, Project Officer at the Hub Foundation. “It makes sense to add more solar because – like all schools – they use power when the sun’s shining so the bills savings can be significant. We hope that everyone will help by spreading the word about MASH. That way we will achieve our target of 100 installations and deliver on our promise to the students of Castlemaine North!”
MASH, the campaign for More Australian Solar Homes, is organised by local not-for-profit the Hub Foundation. 500 homes in the region have installed solar PV systems through MASH since 2014. The Hub Foundation is proud to have Mount Alexander Shire Council and Mount Alexander Sustainability Group as partners.
MASH is coming again to Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges, this time bigger and better than ever before. The bulk-buy, which is strongly supported by both Councils, is cutting the price of high quality solar and battery systems by around 15%.
New round of MASH community solar bulk-buy launched in Castlemaine by Cr. Bronwen Machin on Friday 29 July
MASH, which stands for More Australian Solar Homes, started in Castlemaine in 2014 and has been hugely successful. It has so far been responsible for almost 500 solar installations and has been instrumental in raising the percentage of houses with solar in Mount Alexander from 18% to 26%. In Macedon Ranges, there’s been an increase as well, with over 150 MASH installations since November last year. MASH has also reduced the region’s emissions by almost 3,000 tonnes per year and saved the community almost $400,000 on its power bills.
Cr. Graham Hackett (2nd from right), Mayor of Macedon Ranges Shire Council launches MASH solar bulk-buy in Kyneton on 27 July. From L to R: Al Reid, Vice President of Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group, Jo Kaptein, Project Officer, Hub Foundation, Cr. Graham Hackett, Neil Barrett, Chair, Hub Foundation
MASH is the brainchild of the Hub Foundation Castlemaine which is registered with the Australian Charities and Not For Profits Commission.
According to the Hub Foundation’s project officer, Jo Kaptein, “MASH has been by far our most successful project to date. We consolidate the buying power of residents to negotiate discounts of around 15%. Because we are a not-for-profit, we can pass these onto customers. It’s a win/win for residents and for the environment!”
“The reason for our success is the trust people tend to place in us as a not-for-profit organisation backed by Councils. Plus we have a great track record of offering relatively low prices on quality equipment and always being prepared to go to great lengths to satisfy customers.”
“We will be organising several public information sessions in the two Shires over the next few months. These sessions will provide an excellent opportunity for people to ask all the questions they may have about solar and battery storage”, said Kaptein.
In this latest stage of MASH, both standard and premium systems are on offer and batteries are available for the first time.
Also, MASH will again be awarding free installations for community-owned buildings once 100 installations have been achieved in each Shire. So far, four such installations have been carried out in the two Shires. The latest, on Newham Primary school, is due to take place later this month.
For more information, visit www.mash.org.au or call 1300-466-274.
The campaign for More Australian Solar Homes, or MASH, is spreading to Bendigo. MASH, a community solar bulk-buy organised by the not-for-profit Hub Foundation, started in Castlemaine two years ago and has so far installed almost 500 solar power systems in the Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges shires.
Mayor of Greater Bendigo, Cr. Rod Fyffe (centre) launches MASH Bendigo, a new community solar bulk-buy for residents. From L to R: Jo Kaptein, Project Officer, Hub Foundation, Neil Barrett, Chair, Hub Foundation, Mayor of Greater Bendigo Cr. Rod Fyffe, Tony Smith, MD of Sunergy, Chris Weir, President, Bendigo Sustainability Group
Chair of the Hub Foundation Neil Barrett, said it’s time to bring MASH to Bendigo.
“Solar is booming world-wide and we’re keen to help people take advantage of it. Solar means lower power bills and lower emissions, it’s a great combination. Now, with the strong support of the City of Greater Bendigo and the Bendigo Sustainability Group, we’re ready to go’ said Barrett.
Cr. Rod Fyffe, Mayor of Greater Bendigo
Greater Bendigo Mayor Cr Rod Fyffe said the City is pleased to support the MASH solar bulk-buy in Greater Bendigo.
“MASH already has a track record of delivering high quality solar systems at competitive prices that will help homeowners to save on their electricity costs. There is also a strong community benefit because for every 100 Bendigo homes that purchase a solar system through the MASH project, a free solar system will be installed at a community owned facility or building”, said Cr. Fyffe.
Bendigo Sustainabilty Group President, Chris Weir, said the BSG is proud to be a partner of MASH as it launches in Greater Bendigo. “We encourage residents who are considering solar – or wanting to add battery storage – to take a good look at what MASH has to offer.”
Mr Barrett said it is very clear that people like to join in big community solar projects which they can trust.
“With MASH we are offering high quality solar systems at very competitive prices. People register their interest and we pass these over to a local installer who is able to buy in bulk. In Bendigo, the installer is Sunergy, a Bendigo-based company we’ve worked with very successfully in the past.
“When people purchase a MASH system the price includes a home visit for up to an hour by a qualified installer. That gives people a chance to ask questions and to make sure that their house is suitable for solar,” he said.
For more information about MASH, including prices and info events, visit mash.org.au or call the MASH team on 1300 466 274.
Congratulations to 18 community groups in Mount Alexander Shire who will receive free solar power systems – some up to 20kW in size. The installation of solar photovoltaic panels to all the recipients, is supported through funding from the Australian Government ‘s Solar Town’s Program.
The community groups have been granted a total of $253,000 to pay for solar panels on the roofs of community buildings.
The successful applicants include: Castlemaine Tennis Club, Castlemaine Art Gallery, Buda Historic House and Garden, Castlemaine Bowling Club, Mount Alexander Golf Club, Windarring, Harcourt Uniting Church Pre School. Representatives of some of these organisations gathered at Harcourt recently to mark the occasion.
The Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) and The Hub Foundation worked to support a number of local organisations in their applications, as the application process was quite involved.
“It is encouraging to see the federal government supporting not for profit organisations to go solar, and it’s great that so many local groups have taken up this opportunity. MASG and the Hub Foundation wanted to assist to ensure that as many local groups as possible benefitted from the program,” says Gerry Egan from MASG.
Community Group representatives like George Milford were instrumental in getting the grant applications across the line. George was involved in the successful applications which will see solar panels installed at the Harcourt Preschool, Buda Historic House and Garden and also the Castlemaine Art Gallery.
“It is pleasing to see the utilization of the roof space of public buildings for the generation of solar power. This will have lasting benefits to the environment. Our success has repaid the administrative effort in making the grant applications. This task was only achieved with helpful and constructive assistance from MASG and the Hub Foundation,” says George Milford.
“We are proud and excited to see Castlemaine Tennis Club successful in receiving this support to go solar. We are going to see mini solar power stations across many community buildings with economic and environmental benefits well into the future. Thanks to MASG and the Hub Foundation for their support with the application process,” says Sally Kaptein from Castlemaine Tennis Club.
“This will see a huge injection into the solar and renewable energy economy across the region, boosting the activity of local providers, as well as supporting groups to move towards a carbon neutral future,” says Neil Barrett from The Hub Foundation.
The grants were also available in Macedon Ranges Shire where there were 29 successful applications for $455,000. The Hub Foundation supported many of the community groups in that Shire with their applications as well.
Photo Credit: Recipients of the Solar Towns Grant: Solway Nutting (Harcourt Uniting Church), Lisa Mitchell, Jorga and Abraham (Harcourt Pre School), Rod Fletcher, (Castlemaine Bowling Club), Chris O’Connor (Windarring), Sally Kaptein(Castlemaine Tennis Club), Gerry Egan (on behalf of MASG and The Hub Foundation), Brian Cornish (Mount Alexander Golf Club), George Milford (Castlemaine Art Gallery, Buda Historic House and Garden.)
ts include: Castlemaine Tennis Club, Castlemaine Art Gallery, Buda Historic House and Garden, Castlemaine Bowling Club, Mount Alexander Golf Club, Windarring, Harcourt Uniting Church Pre School. Representatives of some of these organisations gathered at Harcourt recently to mark the occasion.