Energise Gloucester Newsletter No 7

Chairman’s Note

Energise Gloucester is pleased to announce that the solar project on the roof of the Neighbourhood Centre is at the stage of seeking donations or loans to fund it. We are excited about this project and hope that you are able to be part of it.

We submitted an application to MCC for a grant under their Sustainable Communities program and are waiting for their decision. This project is to assist households to audit their energy use and make recommendations to improve the efficiency of their energy costs. More information on this topic will be the theme of our next Community Information Night on 10 August.

A number of activities are happening regarding alternative energy. The NSW Government is considering a Program for Smart Energy Communities. You can help make this happen if you have responded to our earlier email.

Energise Gloucester has decided that its membership year will run from 1 st July so you will soon receive a renewal form. We hope that you will continue with your membership and that you are receiving value from being a member. If there are other things that we can help you with, please let us know with an email to the Editor.

Yours with energy,
David Marston (Chairperson)

Project Updates

Neighbourhood Centre Solar PV.

EG has reached an “in-principle agreement” with the Board of the BWNG and has commenced drafting the legal agreement for the project. We have also sought quotations from local companies for the supply and installation of the solar PV system. This information will enable EG to finalise the business plan, set the rate for electricity charges to BWNG and agree on the buy-back period which is likely to be as short as two years. After this period the BWNG will own and operate the system which will reduce their electricity costs by approximately 80%.

In the next few weeks you will receive an invitation to invest in this project by way of a donation or interest free loan. EG is also finalising these loan agreements and necessary insurance policies to enable installation to start. We hope that many of you will be able to invest in this first project by EG.

Energy Efficiency Audit.

Energise Gloucester has submitted an application to Mid Coast Council applying for funds to start this project under their Stronger Communities Program. If successful we will be able to start training energy efficiency auditors in September this year. The accredited training will be provided by Enova. Enova Energy made Australian history as the country’s first community-owned renewable energy retailer when it started in 2016.

On the north coast of NSW, Enova has a team of Energy Coaches that offer in-home and business assessments to help reduce their energy consumption and to also help assess any solar requirements. This program is being operated in Uralla and will be the basis of our Energise Gloucester program.

Community Solar Energy Farm

As mentioned last month, Energise Gloucester is in the early stages of a concept study for a mid-sized solar energy farm will be designed to generate 100 –1000 kW. The study will also consider an alternative model where a number of smaller 10-100kW systems will be constructed in suitable sites around the district and feed into branch lines of the electricity grid. Either way, the intention is for this to be community funded and will provide the Gloucester community with the opportunity to invest in, and buy locally produced green energy at a competitive rate.

Lumens: The new way to shop for LIGHTBULBS

When you're shopping for lightbulbs, compare lumens to be sure you're getting the amount of light, or level of brightness, you want. The Lighting Facts Label will help. This new label will make it easy to compare bulb brightness, colour, life, and estimated operating cost for the year.

Buy Lumens, Not Watts

In the past, we bought lightbulbs based on how much energy, or watts, they use. Wouldn't it make more sense to buy lights based on how much light they provide?

When you're shopping for lightbulbs, you can choose your next lightbulb for the brightness you want by comparing lumens instead of watts. A lumen is a measure of the amount of brightness of a lightbulb - the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the lightbulb.

What's a Lumen?

Lumens measure how much light you are getting from a bulb. More lumens means it's a brighter light; fewer lumens means it's a dimmer light.

Lumens let you buy the amount of light you want. So when buying your new bulbs, think lumens, not watts.

The brightness, or lumen levels, of the lights in your home, may vary widely, so here's a rule of thumb:

• To replace a 100 watt (W) incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for less lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.
• Replace a 75W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 1100 lumens
• Replace a 60W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 800 lumens
• Replace a 40W bulb with an energy-saving bulb that gives you about 450 lumens.

For Quality of Life

Visiting our town last week for the second time was Dr. Michiel Kohn. Many people in Gloucester had the opportunity of speaking with Michiel who was visiting from The Netherlands. Michiel is an Associate Professor, Anthropology of Law, at Wageningen UR (University & Research centre). The University and various research centres specialise in the domain of healthy food and living environments.

Michiel focuses on the role of law in the production of power inequalities. He researches the relationship between the anonymous large corporations in the globalising market and their scramble for resources and local communities negotiating the best outcomes for their lifestyles, interests and dwellings.

Michiel has researched communities in Bolivia, Indonesia and the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Michiel focused on the reaction of a community after the announcement of proposed shale gas extraction. How the people perceived their expected wins and losses and how this related to a wider context to produce alliances for resistance. One particular point of interest was the change in attitude for renewable energy when the Government stopped the shale gas proposal. Once apathetic towards wind power and solar, the community members took a renewed interest in how they obtained their power. Renewable Energy is perceived as a better choice.

Michiel has chosen Gloucester as one of his projects and will turn with a colleague in November this year to further his research. He is keen to interview many people in the community. The Energise Gloucester committee welcome this opportunity and propose to arrange a public meeting where Michiel will present his ideas. The details about this event will be sent to members closer to the date.

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