DRIFTWOOD Caf\u00e9 Owner Ty Simons has backed a local campaign calling on home and business owners to embrace renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Local action group 100% Clean Bellarine has teamed up with \u2018Solar Marketplace\u2019 ShineHub to deliver Geelong\u2019s first Community Solar program across the Bellarine.<\/p>\n
The program is a month-long roadshow offering free, unbiased expert advice on how to cut electricity bills by up to 90 per cent.<\/p>\n
To date, there has been about 900 sign-ups for the events which are happening across the City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire and Golden Plains Shire.<\/p>\n
About 150 people attended an event held in Geelong on Monday, more than 100 people signed up for an event in Drysdale on Tuesday, and there are at least 70 sign-ups for an event to be held in Barwon Heads on June 3.<\/p>\n
Mr Simons is 100 per cent behind the program and is in fact leading the way after installing 96 solar panels on his business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been here for about two weeks and they are generating power for me on a sunny day, which is great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe looked at it a couple of years ago and it looked like it was going to generate about 20 per cent of our power, but technology has changed dramatically in two years so it\u2019s going to generate about 35 per cent now for the same amount of panels.<\/p>\n
\u201cPricing-wise, it was a $35,000 investment but we are paying that off at $7,500 a year, and yet we are going to save $8,500 a year in electricity costs, so it\u2019s not going to cost us anymore and in four and a half years we will have paid it off and then we\u2019ll be saving that money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Simons said there had to be a change in regards to adopting renewable energy and that there had to be people who would lead in that change.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo think the Bellarine could be one of those leaders is wonderful news.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to show people it\u2019s (solar power) easily done and it\u2019s just a matter of getting on board.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Community Solar program aims to implement a people-powered solution to Australia\u2019s energy crisis that supports local jobs, suppliers and community groups.<\/p>\n
The innovative schemes that will be offered exclusively through the Geelong Community Solar Program will help homeowners cut through the confusion of selecting a solar system and\/or supplier, to access a better deal and ultimately – to drastically reduce their electricity bills.<\/p>\n
If people are keen to sign up for the remaining events they should head to the 100% Clean Bellarine Facebook page at facebook.com\/100CleanBellarine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
DRIFTWOOD Caf\u00e9 Owner Ty Simons has backed a local campaign calling on home and business owners to embrace renewable energy. Local action group 100% Clean Bellarine has teamed up with \u2018Solar Marketplace\u2019 ShineHub to deliver Geelong\u2019s first Community Solar program across the Bellarine. The program is a month-long roadshow offering free, unbiased expert advice on […]<\/p>\n