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Tony Smith, MHR for Casey, Pledges Big Bucks for Healesville Indoor Swimming Pool Refurbishment, Solar Panels & Batteries if Coalition wins the Election!

$1.5 million has been promised for this work, according to the local paper, provided the current Government is returned to office at the upcoming elections. As well as the general refurbishment of the building, a new roof will be added, with solar panels linked to battery storage. Healesville CoRE is delighted with this announcement as it will reduce the pool’s huge power bills by replacing energy from the grid with free solar energy, with a consequent reduction in carbon emissions from the pool’s energy consumption.

Healesville CoRE was involved in discussions with the High School Principal, about the pool in 2018, but we were not able to do anything due to lack of funding opportunities. This offer is a great example of what can be done with solar energy in a small town, when the Government gets behind a project. It is a pity it has only been offered now, and only if the Coalition wins the election! But it is a step in the right direction and we applaud this initiative and congratulate Tony Smith on his foresight and support!

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Healesville Community Solar Hot Water (Heat Pump) Bulk Buy. Calling for Expressions of Interest!

After our very successful launch of the Healesville Community Solar & Battery Offer with Mondo Power, we are now boldly planning our next big project – a bulk buy of solar hot water heat pumps direct from the importer and the manufacturer! We will be doing this on our own, so it is a big step for our very small organization of community volunteers.

We need 20 Expressions of Interest for the company supplying the product to get engaged with us. So, if you are interested, or could be interested, in solar hot water, and if you would like to find out more about our bulk buy for solar hot water (heat pumps) just send an email to contact@healesvillecore.org.au and we will be in touch with you. Our list is gradually increasing in numbers!

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Farming Solutions for a Changing Climate!

If you are a farmer or know a farmer, this event, run by YR Council at the Healesville Memo on Wednesday 29 May from 7.00 to 9.15pm, will be of interest. For further information and registration (which is required) click on this link: https://yrc.vic.gov.au/FarmingSolutions

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Bulk Buy if you’re in the 3777 postcode area

Healesville CoRE will run a Community Solar Bulk Buy for homes, businesses, not for profits, schools and other community buildings,  scheduled to start in February 2019.  Click on below notice for details:

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Our AGM is on Thursday 2 August 2018 – See You There !!!!!

Our next event is our Annual General Meeting. We urge all members and all other interested people to join us ……………..

Date: Thursday 2 August 2018
Time: 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start
Venue: Darron Honey Centre (behind Healesville Uniting Church)

286 Maroondah Highway, Healesville

 

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Did You see Healesville CoRE at the River Street Market on 3 June 2018??

Once again, Healesville CoRE had a stall at the Healesville River Street Market on Sunday 3 June 2018.

 

Many people were interested in what HCoRE is doing (even some non-locals) and they said that they would like to come along to the public meeting  (Our Solar Town – From Dreams to Reality <—- Click here for details) that we’re holding on Thursday 21 June at The Memo in Healesville.

More people signed up as members and we also recorded names and contact details of people who would like to be kept informed of developments.

Some people from out of town took brochures to see what we’ve been up to so far and get some ideas for potentially starting their own community based renewable energy group, so we’ve been spreading the word!

Thanks to the volunteers who ran the stall – Dave, Rosie, Karen, Ron & Marnie

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No Upfront Costs for pensioners to install Solar Panels

Pensioners will be able to access renewable energy with no upfront costs, to reduce their power bills and their carbon footprint, thanks to the latest round of Solar Savers.

Click on this text to see this latest news from the Yarra Ranges Council.

Solar Savers is a partnership between more than 20 Victorian Councils and four regional Greenhouse Alliances

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Benefits for the Environment and for Landlords and for Tenants

On Saturday 26 May 2018, Healesville CoRE facilitated an event entitled “Solar Energy for Landlords and Tenants”.

Bjorn Sturmberg (SunTenants) gave the keynote talk and explained how tenants and landlords can benefit financially by using newly developed technology to measure energy provided from solar panels. The proposal allows landlords achieve a healthy ROI for placing solar panels on rental properties and this also allow tenants to reduce their power bills.

Bjorn explained the motivation for this proposed solution and spoke about the barriers and complexity that exist. He states that the SunTenants solution is Simple, Fair, Transparent. Click here to see the presentation slide pack from Bjorn.

Paul Loftus, Head of Sales for Powershop, spoke on how important it is to understand exactly what the true cost of electricity that we purchase is. If any retailer offers a good discount, we must apply that discount to the quoted rate per kWh to know the actual cost. We must also be very careful to know the end date of any applied package that a retailer has provided.

Julian Guess from the Yarra Ranges Council gave a “Community Solar Update for Healesville”. He showed photos on the progress for installing PV Solar Panels on the Healesville Memo Hall. Julian also spoke about how Victorian Councils will support pensioners install Solar with zero upfront costs (Look at http://solarsavers.org.au/ ) Julian concluded with a summary of the Bulk Buy project that is in progress. Healesville CoRE is participating in this project. Click here to see the presentation slide pack from Julian.

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Did You Know? There was a Radio Interview for Healesville CoRE on 24May18

On Thursday 24 May 2018, Bruce Argyle interviewed Bjorn Sturmberg from Suntenants and Paul Loftus from Powershop. The talk was broadcast by Yarra Valley FM Community Radio (99.1 on your dial) in a regular community program at 9.00 to 10.00am.

Poster for the eventPoster for the eventBjorn Sturmberg and Paul Loftus are two of the speakers at the Healesville CoRE Community Workshop on Saturday 26 May 2018. This will be a very informative talk about Solar for Landlords and Tenants.

Click here to register now 

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