Category Archives: Energy

Community Funded Solar Project in WA

Transition Town Guildford and its members have been fund raising for Citizen’s Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA) for over a year now, collectively contributing over $1,100 towards various projects during this time.

We were very excited to learn that CORENA’s next project is in WA: the Nannup Community Resource Centre is next in line for a 10kW solar PV system, and it won’t cost them a cent. TT Guildford has already chipped in towards this project, including $50 raised at our monthly movie night this week. We invite you to chip in too, which you can do here.

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CORENA (Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia Inc.) provides interest-free loans of up to $20,000 to pay for community projects consisting of solar PV installations and energy efficiency measures for non-profit organisations. Recipient organisations pay back the loan just out of the resultant savings on their power bills, generally within 5 years. After that, the organisation continues to enjoy lower power bills for another 20-25 years, meaning more of their funds will be available to spend on valued community services.

Loan repayments from CORENA’s first 4 projects help to fund the Nannup solar PV installation, and the rest of the funds will be sourced from donations from people all over Australia, not just the Nannup area. TT Guildford is proud to be a contributor. Loan repayments from the Nannup CRC project will feed back into CORENA’s revolving funding pool to help fund future Quick Win solar projects. Once around 20 community funded solar projects have been completed, the funds in the revolving pool will be sufficient to continue funding one new project every month, forever, without needing any more donations.

CORENA is a non-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers. CORENA has raised over $57,000 to provide interest-free loans for solar power to non-profit community organisations in all parts of Australia. Over 40kW of solar PV capacity have already been installed, saving each of the respective community organisations thousands of dollars that are now available to serve the local community. Nannup CRC is CORENA’s 5th project.

We invite you to join us in chiping in to help fund the Nannup solar project. This will greatly reduce carbon emissions, not just for Nannup CRC but also for other non-profit organisations as your contribution revolves forward to help fund future CORENA projects, and that is something that benefits everyone.  For more details and to chip in, see http://corenafund.org.au/quick-win-projects/

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Upcoming presentation by Ecological Architect

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The Transition Town Guildford Sustainable Homes Group will be hosting a presentation by ecological architect Gerard Siero on Solar Design in a Changing Climate. His talk presents the challenges we face, and examples of potential household design solutions.

Come join us for this informative talk.

When: Sunday 15th February

Time: 2 – 4 pm

Where: Bassendean Library, 46 Old Perth Rd, Bassendean

Entry by donation

Afternoon tea provided.

Please RSVP via Eventbrite so we know how many people to expect.

 

About Gerard

Picture of architect Gerard Siero

“Gerard Siero is an ecological architect with 43 years industry experience, on projects ranging from ecological planning to public buildings, schools and housing, emphasising ecological design for sustainability, economy, life and delight, in thoughtful architecture integrated with landscape.  His practice has been based in Perth since 1985. Gérard continues to educate on and explore sustainable, climate-responsive architecture, construction, planning and landscape, with an ecological perspective.

Architecture celebrates humanity and life – “Design with nature, design for Life”.  Sites and clients are unique.  The aim is to create a place that reflects genius loci and the inhabitants, and harmonises the opportunities and challenges of the project towards creating something life giving, functional and beautiful.

In studying the ecological and social crises we now face: climate, habitat and biodiversity losses, rather than disaster, Gerard sees ours as a time of amazing opportunity, of reconnection, relationship, equity, justice and wholeness … transforming our society and economy into life-giving relationships with the Earth and each other!”

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Pics from the Sustainable Homes Day bus trip – part II

Part II of our Sustainable Homes Day bus odyssey. House 2 – Safety Bay House 3 – East Fremantle