In this podcast, Beyond Zero speaks to Alison Crook AO, the chair of Australia's first community-owned renewable energy retailer and social enteprise Enova Energy, based in the Northern Rivers region in NSW.

Enova is breaking exciting new ground as a notable pioneer in the rapidly growing community renewable energy field. Enova is transforming community energy models.

BZE Technology Radio Show: 3 Feb 2017: Podcast

Beyond Zero Emissions talks to Alison Crook AO:

Alison Crook AO speaks about her beautiful Norther Rivers, where her family has a long history in the region. Northern Rivers extends along the Eastern seaboard from Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border and the Enova's Community Energy group arose out of the justifiable frustration at the disinterest and lack of will demonstrated by State and Federal governments in renewable generation. And the local threat of the development of CSG in the area was the final straw.

Like Bendigo bank it contributes to social benefits and has a not-for-profit arm and also an education aspect with volunteers encouraging energy consumers, where interested, in cutting emissions. Most have their own rooftop solar PV but there is no collective community solar farm - as yet!

In the podcast, Alison provides a simple explaination of the highly regulated Natioanl Electricity Market, currently operating mainly from fossil fuel with prices fluctuating every 1/2 hour (with spikes). Fron the generator, the next stage - distribution and transmission - is where 10% of the energy can be lost. The retailer can protect the consumer from the spike effect and can, and does define the profit margins and so what sort of discount they are willing to offer - more when the customer threatens to move to another retailer! Enova offers 12c /kWh Feed-in Tariff which is better than that can be obtained currently elsewhere. It is estimated that 140,000 have recently (start of 2017) lost premiums Feed-in Tariffs in NSW. Alison sees a "huge capacity for change" but there is "lots of work involved". She still maintains this is cheaper than the "green power" on offer. Whilst there is a different pricing structure in different states, there is a lot of interest in Victoria. More information can be found on the website www.enovaenergy.com.au and Alison and Enova will be making an exciting announcement at the Community Energy Congress in Melbourne 27-28 February 2017.

BZE Interviewers: Kay Wennagel, Michael Staindl, Natalie Bucknell

Summary written by: Bev McIntyre

Interview broadcast on: 3 Feb 2017

From Radio 3CR in Melbourne, Australia

Further reading:

ABC News: Alison Crook is the chair of Australia's first community-owned renewable energy retailer Enova

Northern Star: Its crunch time for local renewable energy venture

In this podcast, Beyond Zero speaks to Alison Crook AO, the chair of Australia's first community-owned renewable energy retailer and social enteprise Enova Energy, based in the Northern Rivers region in NSW.

Enova is breaking exciting new ground as a notable pioneer in the rapidly growing community renewable energy field. Enova is transforming community energy models.

BZE Technology Radio Show: 3 Feb 2017: Podcast

Beyond Zero Emissions talks to Alison Crook AO:

Alison Crook AO speaks about her beautiful Norther Rivers, where her family has a long history in the region. Northern Rivers extends along the Eastern seaboard from Coffs Harbour to the Queensland border and the Enova's Community Energy group arose out of the justifiable frustration at the disinterest and lack of will demonstrated by State and Federal governments in renewable generation. And the local threat of the development of CSG in the area was the final straw.

Like Bendigo bank it contributes to social benefits and has a not-for-profit arm and also an education aspect with volunteers encouraging energy consumers, where interested, in cutting emissions. Most have their own rooftop solar PV but there is no collective community solar farm - as yet!

In the podcast, Alison provides a simple explaination of the highly regulated Natioanl Electricity Market, currently operating mainly from fossil fuel with prices fluctuating every 1/2 hour (with spikes). Fron the generator, the next stage - distribution and transmission - is where 10% of the energy can be lost. The retailer can protect the consumer from the spike effect and can, and does define the profit margins and so what sort of discount they are willing to offer - more when the customer threatens to move to another retailer! Enova offers 12c /kWh Feed-in Tariff which is better than that can be obtained currently elsewhere. It is estimated that 140,000 have recently (start of 2017) lost premiums Feed-in Tariffs in NSW. Alison sees a "huge capacity for change" but there is "lots of work involved". She still maintains this is cheaper than the "green power" on offer. Whilst there is a different pricing structure in different states, there is a lot of interest in Victoria. More information can be found on the website www.enovaenergy.com.au and Alison and Enova will be making an exciting announcement at the Community Energy Congress in Melbourne 27-28 February 2017.

BZE Interviewers: Kay Wennagel, Michael Staindl, Natalie Bucknell

Summary written by: Bev McIntyre

Interview broadcast on: 3 Feb 2017

From Radio 3CR in Melbourne, Australia

Further reading:

ABC News: Alison Crook is the chair of Australia's first community-owned renewable energy retailer Enova

Northern Star: Its crunch time for local renewable energy venture

Beyond Zero speaks to Australian Lewis Horne, CEO of Swedish startup Uniti. Uniti EV is an electric city car that aims for holistic sustainability, a futuristic user experience and open source development, based in Sweden.

Beyond Zero speaks to Australian Lewis Horne, CEO of Swedish startup Uniti. Uniti EV is an electric city car that aims for holistic sustainability, a futuristic user experience and open source development, based in Sweden.

This show was broadcast on Monday 30th January 2017 - Kate Auty, Philip Sutton, Luke Taylor

The annual National Sustainable Living Festival starts this week and runs from 4 Feb to 28 Feb - with the Big Weekend in Melbourne Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February.

In the first interview Vivien talks to Luke Taylor about the Festival program, the film The Age of Consequences, communicating the climate emergency to leave nobody behind and many things besides.

In the second interview Natalie speak with Philip Sutton from RSTI and Breakthrough on the 3 parts of the thinking behind the Climate Emergency Declaration, and how people can help it be taken on at every level to create a ripple wave across Australia - starting local, state and building up to federal.

We finish with a recording of Kate Auty speaking on her perspective on local level theory of change.

<<  Many may know the National Sustainable Living Festival is on again. Come along, you can hear from folks like Alan Pears, Richard Keech or myself during this month-long series of events. Cheers, Tim Forcey  >>

This show was broadcast on Monday 30th January 2017 - Kate Auty, Philip Sutton, Luke Taylor

The annual National Sustainable Living Festival starts this week and runs from 4 Feb to 28 Feb - with the Big Weekend in Melbourne Friday-Sunday, 10-12 February.

In the first interview Vivien talks to Luke Taylor about the Festival program, the film The Age of Consequences, communicating the climate emergency to leave nobody behind and many things besides.

In the second interview Natalie speak with Philip Sutton from RSTI and Breakthrough on the 3 parts of the thinking behind the Climate Emergency Declaration, and how people can help it be taken on at every level to create a ripple wave across Australia - starting local, state and building up to federal.

We finish with a recording of Kate Auty speaking on her perspective on local level theory of change.

<<  Many may know the National Sustainable Living Festival is on again. Come along, you can hear from folks like Alan Pears, Richard Keech or myself during this month-long series of events. Cheers, Tim Forcey  >>

Seeing a new article (Jan 2017) by Energy Advisor, Tim Forcey, in The Conversation, we revisit some Tim Forcey podcasts about switching off gas and going all-electric for the most energy efficient, comfortable, sustainable home which saves you money on your electricity bills.

Can Facebook help you make your home more sustainable?

Tim Forcey, University of Melbourne

Facebook has always been controversial, with many users worrying about how the information they post might be used. Lately, the social media behemoth has also been criticised for facilitating the spread of fake news.

But over the past 18 months I have learned that the technology of Facebook groups offers an effective way for people to collaborate on common interests – in my case, on enhancing the sustainability of our homes and lifestyles.

As part of a research project, I created a public Facebook group where members initially discussed and decoded a particularly sophisticated space-heating heat pump (otherwise known on mainland Australia as a reverse-cycle air conditioner). Predictably, our discussions quickly expanded to include other aspects of home economics, aesthetics, comfort and sustainability.

Today the group is called My Efficient Electric Home. Membership has doubled over the past two months. It now includes more than 550 people, from every state and territory of Australia as well as New Zealand and other countries.

It’s global, but it can quickly become local. The other day a member living near Cairns, Queensland, posed some questions about solar panels and tropical swimming pools. Shortly thereafter another member, also from around Cairns, chimed in with (hopefully!) the answer.

My efficient electric home

Our stated purpose is for group members to discuss methods of space heating, water heating and cooking using electricity rather than fossil gas or wood. Our focus on electricity recognises a future in which renewable energy is the fuel of choice, whether it is sourced from a central or neighbourhood grid, or generated and stored at home.

The Electric Home of the Future, as envisaged in the past.

Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1939As a “public” group, millions of Facebook users from anywhere on the planet can find us and passively observe our discussions. For those who wish to engage more actively, becoming a member (by making a request to the group admin) allows users to ask or answer questions, post information and receive notifications about our group’s activity. Some of our members belong to dozens of Facebook groups, but for others, like me, My Efficient Electric Home was their very first.

Ours isn’t the only internet group to discuss sustainability and energy efficiency. Various online resources such as the Whirlpool forum have been around for years, covering topics ranging from computer software to travel. Moderated sites such as the Alternative Technology Association and Choice have covered home-sustainability topics.

And of course we can’t forget the hundreds of comments left by readers of my previous home-energy-related articles right here on The Conversation. However, an attraction of Facebook over simpler message boards is Facebook’s wide range of features.

How it’s working

Members of our Facebook group can upload photos, videos, data files of energy use or generation, research reports, manuals for appliances, energy bills and letters from utility companies, links to other sites, relevant news articles, and more.

Thinking of switching off gas?

Tim ForceyFacebook’s technique of “rolling-up” and “cascading-down” discussion threads means that topics of less interest quickly sink from immediate view (although they are never lost). Months-old discussions are easily resurrected whenever a member adds a new comment or question. For example,

Seeing a new article (Jan 2017) by Energy Advisor, Tim Forcey, in The Conversation, we revisit some Tim Forcey podcasts about switching off gas and going all-electric for the most energy efficient, comfortable, sustainable home which saves you money on your electricity bills.

Can Facebook help you make your home more sustainable?

Tim Forcey, University of Melbourne

Facebook has always been controversial, with many users worrying about how the information they post might be used. Lately, the social media behemoth has also been criticised for facilitating the spread of fake news.

But over the past 18 months I have learned that the technology of Facebook groups offers an effective way for people to collaborate on common interests – in my case, on enhancing the sustainability of our homes and lifestyles.

As part of a research project, I created a public Facebook group where members initially discussed and decoded a particularly sophisticated space-heating heat pump (otherwise known on mainland Australia as a reverse-cycle air conditioner). Predictably, our discussions quickly expanded to include other aspects of home economics, aesthetics, comfort and sustainability.

Today the group is called My Efficient Electric Home. Membership has doubled over the past two months. It now includes more than 550 people, from every state and territory of Australia as well as New Zealand and other countries.

It’s global, but it can quickly become local. The other day a member living near Cairns, Queensland, posed some questions about solar panels and tropical swimming pools. Shortly thereafter another member, also from around Cairns, chimed in with (hopefully!) the answer.

My efficient electric home

Our stated purpose is for group members to discuss methods of space heating, water heating and cooking using electricity rather than fossil gas or wood. Our focus on electricity recognises a future in which renewable energy is the fuel of choice, whether it is sourced from a central or neighbourhood grid, or generated and stored at home.

The Electric Home of the Future, as envisaged in the past.

Popular Mechanics Magazine, 1939As a “public” group, millions of Facebook users from anywhere on the planet can find us and passively observe our discussions. For those who wish to engage more actively, becoming a member (by making a request to the group admin) allows users to ask or answer questions, post information and receive notifications about our group’s activity. Some of our members belong to dozens of Facebook groups, but for others, like me, My Efficient Electric Home was their very first.

Ours isn’t the only internet group to discuss sustainability and energy efficiency. Various online resources such as the Whirlpool forum have been around for years, covering topics ranging from computer software to travel. Moderated sites such as the Alternative Technology Association and Choice have covered home-sustainability topics.

And of course we can’t forget the hundreds of comments left by readers of my previous home-energy-related articles right here on The Conversation. However, an attraction of Facebook over simpler message boards is Facebook’s wide range of features.

How it’s working

Members of our Facebook group can upload photos, videos, data files of energy use or generation, research reports, manuals for appliances, energy bills and letters from utility companies, links to other sites, relevant news articles, and more.

Thinking of switching off gas?

Tim ForceyFacebook’s technique of “rolling-up” and “cascading-down” discussion threads means that topics of less interest quickly sink from immediate view (although they are never lost). Months-old discussions are easily resurrected whenever a member adds a new comment or question. For example,

Alan Pears AM, is arguably Australia’s best-regarded sustainability and energy efficiency expert. In this podcast, Alan talks about renewable energy, government policy and what he calls our 'competitive democracy'.

"The problems are our leadership, short-sightedness, the misguided fear we will be worse off in a clean energy future, and lack of vision and practical focus." And through all this Alan Pears remains positive!

BZE Technology Radio Show: 20 Jan 2017: Podcast

Beyond Zero Emissions talks to Alan Pears AM:

Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University and advises a number of industry and community organisations

75+ columns over 2 decades for Renew magazine which was released as an e-book in late 2016 titled The Pears Report: Reflections on two decades of energy and climate policy and available for download from the ATA.

Expert in Appliance and equipment energy efficiency ratings and standards

BZE Interviewers: Kay Wennagel and Michael Staindl

Interview recorded on: 20 Jan 2017

From Radio 3CR in Melbourne, Australia

Further reading:

RenewEconomy: 10 clean energy facts

ReNew: The Pears Report: Reflections on reflections

Alan Pears AM, is arguably Australia’s best-regarded sustainability and energy efficiency expert. In this podcast, Alan talks about renewable energy, government policy and what he calls our 'competitive democracy'.

"The problems are our leadership, short-sightedness, the misguided fear we will be worse off in a clean energy future, and lack of vision and practical focus." And through all this Alan Pears remains positive!

BZE Technology Radio Show: 20 Jan 2017: Podcast

Beyond Zero Emissions talks to Alan Pears AM:

Senior Industry Fellow at RMIT University and advises a number of industry and community organisations

75+ columns over 2 decades for Renew magazine which was released as an e-book in late 2016 titled The Pears Report: Reflections on two decades of energy and climate policy and available for download from the ATA.

Expert in Appliance and equipment energy efficiency ratings and standards

BZE Interviewers: Kay Wennagel and Michael Staindl

Interview recorded on: 20 Jan 2017

From Radio 3CR in Melbourne, Australia

Further reading:

RenewEconomy: 10 clean energy facts

ReNew: The Pears Report: Reflections on reflections