Renewable Energy Update

The BBSN aims to connect people with information on diverse areas of sustainability

Power comes from a community informing itself about options. There are always options even if these are not staring us in the face. The sort of change that improves people’s lives rarely comes from politicians or corporations. Change happens from the ground up, when people have actively become informed and know what to ask or work for.

Community power comes through information. The Baw Baw Sustainability Network was established in 2008. BBSN aims to bridge the gap between knowledge and the community that needs it - to provide up-to-date information about the many ways of producing electricity, about making homes cheaper to run and more comfortable to live in, about small-lot food production, and about making connections between residents and professionals creating diverse options.

The Latrobe Valley has been Victoria’s major electricity generating location. Plenty of employment. Lots of coal. Large power generating plants. Education and training to match until privatisation and see-sawing political decision-making left our valley bereft of a clear future direction.

BBSN’s July meeting will feature people who are very active in sustainability matters.

Ruth Harper will talk about the proposed Delburn windfarm.

Malcolm McKelvie will explain the ScoreCard energy system of designing a new house or renovating your home for comfort, and simultaneously reducing costs to heat and cool

Anthea Merson will represent SPARC, a business microgrid project for multi-tenanted buildings.

Chris Barfoot will talk about Micro grids and new electricity sharing opportunities.

Trent Mair will discuss different options for solar, what makes a good system and some things to check when choosing an installer.

Dan Musil from Earthworker Co-op will talk about hot water systems now produced in Latrobe Valley that are the most efficient available and very affordable.

Look forward to speaking with you at the newly refurbished Goods Shed on 25 July.

Tickets are $9 for members and $12 for guests, and include supper, tea, and coffee.