Geelong Sustainability’s highly successful Community Power Hub program will continue to support local not-for-profit organisations in the Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Queenscliff and Golden Plains regions in the coming financial year. The initiative offers free independent support and expert advice on how to significantly reduce energy bills and navigate the complexities of renewable energy adoption and other upgrades.
Geelong Sustainability’s Community Energy Officer, Emma Chessell, brings her extensive knowledge to the hub and offers a range of services depending on the organisation’s individual needs. Emma has helped local organisations with energy audits, solar feasibility assessments, business cases for various energy upgrades, and assistance in transitioning from gas to electricity.
“The Community Power Hub program continues to be a game-changer for not-for-profits in our region, providing essential support and expertise that empower organisations to make informed decisions about renewable energy adoption and to help them save money”, says Dan Cowdell, CEO, Geelong Sustainability. “We’re here to make the journey from project development to implementation as smooth as possible, enabling organisations to reduce both their energy bills and environmental impact.”
Participating organisations within the council areas can take advantage of independent business case assessments, project cost and savings evaluations, assistance in engaging reputable installers, and thorough post-installation follow-ups. While rooftop solar remains a popular choice, there is a rising interest among community groups in exploring alternatives such as cutting running costs through gas elimination, infrastructure upgrades and adopting electric vehicles.
The program delivered approximately 137kW of renewable energy within its first year, working with 38 local not-for-profits. This translates to an estimated $37,000 in annual energy bill savings and a substantial reduction of approximately 160 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
Geelong Food Relief is one of the local not-for-profit organisations the hub has recently helped. There were three main areas of focus; review options for their electricity supply, audit existing solar and battery infrastructure, and assess the case for increased solar.
“Emma translated the foreign language of the energy sector to help us understand our situation and where cost savings could occur. Through an audit of our setup and finding a more suitable contract, we will be saving over a thousand dollars per month which can be redirected back into the community”, says Andrew Schauble, CEO, Geelong Food Relief. “The business case the hub developed for more solar, provided the necessary detail for a new funder to offer their support–benefiting the environment and putting further savings into our community”.
We are excited to announce that the program will continue to run through until June 2025. Not-for-profit organisations are encouraged to reach out to Geelong Sustainability to explore how the Community Power Hub can benefit them. Enquiries can be directed to info@geelongsustainability.org.au or by calling 1300 133 702.
Managed by Geelong Sustainability, the program receives crucial support and grant funding from the Geelong Community Foundation.
For more information about the Community Power Hub, please visit https://www.geelongsustainability.org.au/project/cph/