Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) has set its sights on leading the community to achieve the goal of Zero Net emissions by 2025.
This is achievable. By setting this target, we can look to encourage and facilitate action targeting the following focus areas:
1. Community Renewables:
Aim: 20MW of generation
– Waste to Energy feasibility study 1 to 2MW
– Institutional and Commercial – Community Finance model – Pilot under plan (target 1 MW)
– Future Solar farm 16MW
– Bioenergy other 2MW
– Invest out of shire in WIND (e.g. Macedon Wind farm)
2. Energy Efficiency Solutions
– Aim for reduction of household and commercial demand in energy of 2 MW equivalent
– Sustainability house tours
– Habitat online directory, for household and lifestyle energy efficiency solutions
– Identify program using assessement tools (future)
3. WasteLess
– Aim for reduction of energy use of 2 MW in transport and processing as well as well as reduced methane and other gas emissions
– Wash against waste trailer program
– wasteless program – online local up cycling and reverse garbage registry
– hazardous waste recycling: battery and light globes
The essentials to delivering Zero Net emissions can be summarised as follows:
Householders
- Energy efficiency – appliances, insulation, lighting, etc.
- Solar programs and storage can see household emissions from electricity be a net zero. What if any, is drawn from the grid is replaced by upload to the grid at other times.
- Gas use will discouraged in favour of electricity generated renewably.
- Reduced waste
- Recycling
Small Businesses
- Recycling
- Reduced waste
- Solar programs and storage can see the business emissions from electricity be a net zero. What if any, is drawn from the grid is replaced by upload to the grid at other times.
- Energy efficiency – appliances, insulation, lighting, etc.
Industry & government
- Energy efficiency – equipment, insulation, lighting, etc.
- Solar programs and storage can see industry emissions from electricity be a net zero. What if any, is drawn from the grid is replaced by upload to the grid at other times.
- Reduced waste
- Use waste to generate bio energy to replace grid connected energy
- Use waste to generate heat to be used in processes in place of that generated by gas or electricity
Farms
- Energy efficiency on the farm – as for business and householders
- Solar or wind generation of electricity can see emissions from electricity be a net zero. What if any, is drawn from the grid is replaced by upload to the grid at other times.
- Bio Char created by cooperative ventures from waste to fertilize
- Bio-diesel created by cooperative ventures for fuel
Transport
- Energy efficient transport, – public transport, car pooling, etc.
- Electric vehicles
- Bio-diesel
Community renewables (bulk supply to the grid)
- Community owned solar farm
- Community owned wind farm
- Community owned bio-energy
Off-setting what can’t be directly eliminated
- Plantings to create carbon sink
- Invest in renewable generation elsewhere, e.g. wind farm, solar farm
Its not something that MASG can do in isolation and we appreciate the efforts of not for profit groups and commercial enterprises in the shire towards achieving this. Groups such as:
- The Hub Foundation with the MASH solar bulk buy programs
- Newstead Renewables – with their planned 100% renewables target
- Harcourt Progress association
- The Enviro Group (Enviroshop)
- Energy for the People
