Located in northeast Victoria, Towong Shire Council’s landmark solar energy project recently took out the Economic Development Australia Award for Excellence in Environmental Economic Innovation. Pure Towong Energy is believed to be an Australian first, delivering triple bottom line benefits through a Local Government facilitated group solar energy system purchase.
Council’s Acting Chief Executive Aaron van Egmond said the project created four new permanent jobs in Towong, helped upskill local contractors and gave residents who may not have been able to afford the usual upfront costs of solar energy the opportunity to become involved.
“Through bulk buying of solar panels, negotiating with project partner WAW Credit Union to offer discount loans, and using one supplier, Zen Home Energy Systems, we were able to minimise people’s outlay,” Aaron van Egmond said.
“Most installations cost only $3,000 after a Federal Government rebate of $8,000 and those who took up the scheme are not only saving money, but are actively reducing our carbon footprint.”
He said Council also set up a Community Fund, which collected $100 from Zen Energy for each installation. This was then matched by Council and WAW Credit Union.
“We have $37,800 which will be used to attract funding for more environmentally sustainable projects,” Aaron van Egmond said.
He said he was thrilled with Pure Towong Energy’s success and the fact the Shire, which has 0.1 per cent of the State’s population, now supplies 5.1 per cent of Victoria’s residential solar power.
“It has been a really exciting phase for us. Not only have we taken huge strides towards becoming a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Shire, but we have been able to directly assist 30 councils across Australia to replicate our Pure Towong Energy program.”
Towong Shire Councillor Peter Joyce helped instigate the program. He said 153 householders across the Shire are now enjoying its benefits.
“This was a great opportunity to give the community some extra disposable income through electricity savings and to contribute back to the mains power grid,” Councillor Joyce said.
“It also helped reduce our carbon footprint because we’re burning less brown coal, and the concept was a great fit with Towong’s pure image and our commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Councillor Joyce said that on average, households that installed a one kilowatt solar PV system provided 25 per cent of their own power requirements, while those with two kilowatt systems provided up to 50 per cent. Council is now working on stage two of the Pure Towong Energy project, which will broaden the focus from solar PV systems to also include solar hot water systems, insulation and draftproofing.
Aaron van Egmond said energy efficiency audits will be undertaken to determine the greatest needs before bulk and collaborative purchasing options are explored. There will also be a stronger focus on changing behaviour, and using financial incentives as a lever to encourage that change to occur more quickly.
For further information contact Aaron
van Egmond on (02) 6071 5100 or visit
www.puretowongenergy.com
