TIDY TOWNS TIPSENERGY INNOVATION AWARD

Conserving energy and minimising production of greenhouse gases helps create a healthy environment and a sustainable community.

With the rising costs of producing electricity, it is well worth time investigating and installing many energy saving and efficiency products, as these can result in considerable and immediate savings. Auditing buildings and facilities is the first step in creating action plans that can be, in many cases, simply implemented, resulting in significant savings.

Large greenhouse gas emission reductions can be made through simple energy efficiencyimprovements with additional cost saving benefits for householders, businesses, communitygroups and councils.Projects that are highly regarded by Keep Australia Beautiful encourage community education and involvement in the planning, development and/or implementation of innovative strategies which focus on renewable energy use and climate change issues.

Examples include:

Energy efficiency initiatives by community/local government/industry, including smartbuilding design, use of energy efficient building products, self-generatedelectricity/heating projects (e.g. photo-voltaic cells)

Energy minimisation practices and/or devices at public facilities (e.g. long-life lightglobes, solar-heated/powered public facilities or services, automatic light shut-offswitches - where safety is not compromised)

Local government support for innovative community/local government/industryprojects, concepts, studies and/or research which focus on cleaner production,sustainable development, pollution prevention and/or environmental protection.

Partnerships between community/local government/industry which have beenestablished to address renewable energy options.

Programs which encourage community education and/or involvement in the planning,development and/or implementation of innovative strategies which focus onrenewable energy use and climate change issues.

Energy efficiency initiatives by community/local government/industry, includingsmart/green building design, use of energy efficient building products, renewableenergy projects, eg photo-voltaic cells, wind generation, etc.

*Please note these are examples only and are not essential.*

JUDGE’S TIP (Courtesy Peter Ashton):

Ask yourself:

  • What industry has introduced a solar power component?
  • What education is underway?
  • What has Council done to reduce energy consumptions?
  • What is the set up and design in community buildings (planned or completed) – is there anything new and energy saving?
  • Are there any Council policies on new constructions to be solar efficient?
  • Are there any committees looking at the issue of energy?
  • How is power generated locally: gas versus coal down south; diesel power station converted to gas; any wind turbine components; any studies on wave, wind or solar for the future?
  • Is there any back-loading and local production to reduce energy and food miles?

CASE STUDY

The State Winner of Energy Innovation for 2014 was York. You can read all about their projects here (from page 16).

ONLINE RESOURCES

Some great resources available online include –

a ‘Climate Change Management Toolkit’: (visit the adaption plan checklist first);

LivingSmart publications and data

the Energy Smart Directory