Community Smart Energy Initiative in 2024

Gain insights and practical tips into optimising your energy use, lowering costs, and contributing to a more sustainable community.

Helping the local community to become energy efficient, save money and reduce carbon emissions for a more sustainable future.

We held a stall at Umina Markets on Sunday 21 July 2024.

We spoke to many people in the community about being smart with how you can become energy efficient.

We had handouts on low cost approaches to being energy efficient in the home, how to get started with rooftop Solar, a Community Solar trading scheme and what is available from Government including rebates and incentives for households and businesses.

We also had members from other like-minded local community groups to help spread the word. Mark from Peninsula Environment Group and Donna from Electrify Bouddi gave their time to spread their knowledge on becoming energy efficient.

We also had Luke from Dux, to give his expertise about efficient hot water systems and Joe from SEA Solutions who gave his expertise about solar systems for homes and strata solutions.

Ealier in the year we held 2 community talks in February and April 2024 at

Umina Surf Life Saving Club, Ocean Beach Road, Umina Beach

Knowledgeable locals spoke about their real-life experiences and shared their knowledge on becoming energy efficient.

Louisa Klopsteins (Van Holland energy assessors) – Energy Efficiency: How assessing your home can improve your energy usage.
- How small changes can improve your home to save money, improve comfort and reduce emissions.
- Why it can be helpful to owners, those renting and people thinking of building and renovating.
Jo Muller (Peninsula Environment Group) – Overcoming the roadbumps to Going Solar: Thinking of going solar or getting more from your solar system?
- Overcoming the speed bumps to going solar.
- How to get the best out of a solar system.
- How to assess if a battery system is for you.
Stephen King (Patonga Progress Association) – Community Energy Trading: From using my solar power to sharing our solar power.
- How to tap into the benefits of solar with or without solar panels.
- Why it can be helpful to owners, renters, businesses and people in strata situations.

Links to useful information and the session presentations can be found below.

Presented by Umina Community Group in partnership with Peninsula Environment Group, Patonga Progress Association and Van Holland.

Proudly supported by Central Coast Council

The first session was held on Wednesday 21 February 2024 which was well attended and some of the feedback we received included:

“Thank you for organising such a great event.”

“I really appreciated how well prepared the speakers were, and how generous they were with their time after their talks.”

“Great talks, I learnt of several practical actions I can immediately take.”

Check our facebook page for updates

Learn about our presenters and how they can help us all navigate how to reduce our energy bills, lower our emissions and be part of the community to make a better future for us all.

Louisa Klopsteins is a home energy efficiency and sustainability consultant with academic qualifications in home energy efficiency and sustainability, sociology and commerce. Louisa is a NatHERS accredited assessor and Residential Scorecard accredited assessor. Louisa works in her own company Van Holland Pty Ltd helping people on the Central Coast improve homes to be more efficient for healthier and more sustainable living.

Jo Muller has been living in Woy Woy for the last 15 years. He has a background in science, and has been using his skills with the local community energy movement on using renewable energy, especially solar technology. Jo has presented community information sessions on solar and helped to get a solar PV system installed on the roof of the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Leveraging his independent perspective, Jo assists individuals in understanding technology and finances in solar systems and in asking the right questions when considering their investment in solar technology.

Stephen King is a Patonga resident who has been working with his local community to improve the reliability of their electricity supply and also address the increasing costs of electricity. Realising that by working together as a community, individual residents could share in the benefits of solar even when not everyone could install a rooftop solar system. Stephen has been part of the 20+ residents in Patonga/Pearl Beach who have become involved in community trading using the Energy Local/Powertracer system and has helped people in the local Umina/Ettalong community understand the potential benefits of community energy trading.

Presented by Umina Community Group in partnership with Peninsula Environment Group, Patonga Progress Association and Van Holland.

Disclaimer. The information is general in nature, is not professional advice and should not be relied upon when making decisions. Individuals need to conduct their own assessment and gain individual advice to suit their own circumstances.

Useful Information

Event Presentations

Energy Efficiency and the Sorecard (Louisa Klopsteins)

Overcoming Roadblocks to Solar (Jo Muller)

Community Energy Trading (Stephen King)

Government Rebates and Assistance

Government Energy Rebates Business

Government Energy Rebates Residential

Energy Rebates

Energy Saving Scheme

Residential Batteries

IPART Upgrades

Federal Government budget initiatives

Developing a Plan to be energy efficient

Planning-Start a plan summary

Planning-Start a plan worksheet

Planning-Electrification planning guide

Energy Tips

HOT WATER SYSTEMS: Our community colleagues at Electrify Bouddi are collating information on upgrading your hotwater systems and local installers to consider on your path to energy efficiency. Check out their website below;

Hot Water Upgrades

Assessing your home for energy efficiency

Efficiency Factsheet National Scorecard

Efficiency Fact Sheet Hot weather

Solar

Solar getting started

Solar for Strata SOLSHARE

Our community colleagues at Electrify Bouddi are collating information on local solar installers to consider on your path to solar. Check out their website below;

Path to Solar

Community Energy Trading

Central Coast SolarShare

Powertracer and Energy Locals