Funding clean energy for not-for-profit organisations

A GEELONG initiative is raising funds to provide interest-free loans to local not-for-profit organisations in an effort to help them overcome costs associated with energy upgrades.

Geelong Sustainability is calling on the community to support its Community Energy Revolving Fund (CERF) to increase clean energy projects around the regions.

“The CERF is an innovative way to provide long-term financial and environmental benefits to local organisations while helping our region transition to clean energy,” Geelong Sustainability chief executive officer Jane Spence said.

“We invite individuals, businesses and philanthropic groups to contribute and be part of this ongoing transformation.”

Since its inception in 2022, the CERF has supported 283kW of solar and 15 hot water pumps, with loans paid off over five years, repayments are reinvested into new projects.

 

If $10,000 is raised for the CERF in 2025, 10kW of solar for a community centre could be funded, saving the organisation $2,040 in the first year.

Cloverdale Community Centre was one of the organisations to use the loan to reduce its emissions, with chief executive officer Liz Bonner saying they were so grateful for the support of the CERF.

“The interest-free loan (as well as a partial state government grant) allowed us to install solar with no upfront costs, making the project cash-flow positive from day one,”

she said.

“Thanks to the CERF, we are saving $5,000 per year on electricity costs and cutting 25 tonnes of carbon emissions annually – savings that can now be reinvested into our community support services.”

The Community Power Hub, another Geelong Sustainability initiative, helps identify energy saving opportunities and helps community groups ensure CERF-funded projects are assessed, correctly sized and competitively quoted.

Donations of all amounts are welcome to help grow the CERF and support more community groups.

For more information and to donate, head to geelongsustainability.org.au