On November 16, BEAM-Mitchell Environment Group and Yes 2 Renewables will present an Energy Futures Forum in Seymour. The event is already sparking interest in the region which is the site of the proposed Cherry Tree Range wind farm.

Victoria stands at a crossroads. Will our energy future be defined by more business-as-usual: fossil fuels, pollution, the threat of fracking and climate change? Or will we transition to clean renewable energy sources?

Energy efficiency can make the transition to renewables quicker and easier while saving householders on their power bills. Trent Hawkins, lead author of Beyond Zero Emissions’ Zero Carbon Buildings Plan, will outline four ways Victorians can get energy smart, save money and reduce carbon emissions. Original article published by BEAM. 

Households in Seymour and surrounds can reduce their carbon emissions to zero with four simple steps.

Trent Hawkins, Project Director of the Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan, will talk about how this can be done at the Energy Futures Forum in Seymour on November 16.

The four steps are going gas free, fixing the building envelopes, installing energy efficient appliances and lighting, and rooftop solar to power every home.

“Every house in Australia could be emissions free in ten years if we implemented this plan”, said Mr Hawkins.

With this approach, households would produce more electricity than they use, but using less on a daily basis than they do now.

After three years of working on the Plan at environmental think tank Beyond Zero Emissions, he proposes that it is not only possible but that it is realistic and financially viable.

“Australian houses and workplaces are often unnecessarily cold in winter, hot in summer, and expensive to run”, Mr Hawkins added.

“We now have the technologies and know-how to make our buildings far more comfortable, while protecting us from rising electricity and gas bills”, he said.

The Buildings Plan looks at existing Australian buildings, how they are designed, and how these designs could be improved.

The Plan shows that the residential building sector is be able to achieve 53 percent energy use reduction overall, with some typical home categories seeing over 70 percent reduction. Commercial building categories can reduce energy use by 44 percent overall.

With new technologies replacing inefficient and polluting appliances which use gas, and with solar energy produced on the rooftops of households and businesses, we would be well on our way to producing zero emissions.

If implemented, the Buildings Plan would give households and businesses a new level of control over their energy bills, it could remove the need for the polluting and unpopular coal-seam gas industry, and it would stimulate employment in trades and services for the buildings sector by tens of thousands of jobs.

Trent Hawkins will be joining several other speakers at the Energy Futures Forum which will investigate a variety of issues and solutions for embracing renewable energy and turning away from fossil fuels.

TAKE ACTION:

• RSVP to the event on Facebook.
• If you’re a local, please download the Energy Futures Flyer, print it out and spread the word!
• Help Yes 2 Renewables support local groups by making a donation.