Thirty-five Community Support Workers (CSWs) will receive formal home energy assessment training as part of a new project at Glenelg Shire Council.
Glenelg SAVES (Seniors Achieving Valuable Energy Saving) equips CSWs with the skills needed to assess the energy consumption of both their own and their clients’ homes, then implement strategies to reduce power usage.
The program was launched in late February and is being coordinated through the Council’s Home & Community Care (HACC) department.
Glenelg Shire Council Mayor Councillor John Northcott said it was exciting for Glenelg Shire to be at the forefront of initiating positive changes to assist our environment.
“Even if we all make the small differences in our homes, it adds up to a huge difference in energy savings overall.
“The real benefits aren’t what we will feel immediately but they are what will affect the livelihoods of our children and future generations.”
The project received funding from the Australian Government Department of Industry as part of the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program.
Glenelg Shire Council, Federation University and the Southern Grampians Glenelg Primary Care Partnership have collaborated and provided the remainder of the funding.
Data will be collected pre and post energy efficiency improvements with continued research until the project’s completion in March 2016.
