Helping community groups slash costs and emissions

Community groups across the state will save money on their energy bills and help drive down emissions thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas today congratulated the Hepburn Shire on being one of 88 community groups across the state that will receive grants to upgrade or install solar and renewable energy batteries to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities saving almost $900,000 on annual energy bills.

The Labor Government has invested $1.8 million through the second round of the Community Climate Change and Energy Action (CCCEA) program, which helps community groups reduce their energy costs while slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

The upgrades include converting to solar electricity with battery storage, switching to more efficient LED lighting, upgrading older air conditioning units or installing efficient electric hot water systems.

These sustainable changes are outside the budgets of many Victorian community groups.

The Hepburn Shire has received a total of $9,877 for the following project:

-Replacement of gas heaters with split system A/Cs, as well as 4.7 kW rooftop solar installation at Attitude Ageing Well.

Previously, under the first round, The Daylesford Dharma school was given a grant of $11,485 for Daylesford Dharma School Supercharges with Solar Project and the Trentham Golf Club was given a grant of $15,429 for the Driving Down Emissions Project.

Through the program, a total of $3 million will be invested to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency for community groups – cutting bills by $1.2 million a year and saving over 4,400 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.

In 2021, the CCCEA program funded more than $1.16 million for community organisations to make energy upgrades or conduct an energy audit. This has already delivered $300,000 of annual savings.

For more information and a list of recipients, visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/community-climatechange-and-energy-action-funded-projects

Quote attributable to Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas
"Congratulations to the Hepburn Shire Council, one of 88 organisations who will slash energy bills and help us halve Victoria’s emissions by 2030 thanks to our Community Climate Change and Energy Action Program."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy Lily D’Ambrosio
"We’re giving community groups like kindergartens, sports clubs and cultural groups the opportunity to reduce their energy costs by upgrading their facilities with simple switches which save money and slash emissions."

"We’re helping community groups reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by over 4,400 tonnes per year — bringing us closer to our goal of reducing Victoria’s emissions by 50 per cent by 2030."