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Project:

Affordable Water and Energy Efficiency

Background 

The partnership between the Council of Social Service of New South Wales (NCOSS) and the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS), has one project funded within the Our environment - it's a living thing partnership – the Affordable Water & Energy Efficiency project.

This project seeks to work with agencies that support low-income households, and other people in need, to reduce their water and energy use and associated costs.

The project seeks to apply the National Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) Energy and Water performance rating to low-income households and welfare group homes in NSW, to indicate the potential dollar savings on utility bills and to diagnose the necessary changes to achieve these savings.

Project activities 

To build the capacity of non-government human services organisations in energy and water conservation, this project will firstly target their own premises.

Home Care Maintenance workers will also be trained in advising households on energy and water cost savings.

Target groups

Each group below becomes an avenue to providing education on water and energy efficiency to people on low incomes.

• Home and Community Care (HACC) services and clients
• organisations providing emergency relief and their clients
• supported and crisis accommodation premises
• No Interest Loans Schemes (NILS)

Delivery methods

• Identifying low and no cost opportunities for improving energy and water efficiency in homes.  Training for staff and volunteers providing support to people on low incomes is being provided free of charge. People trained will be able to provide a NABERS rating (either formal or informal) to their client households and assist them identify areas where energy and water wastage may be occurring.
  
• Identifying water and energy efficiency improvements in group homes.
  A limited number of group homes are being offered energy and water use audits and retrofits.

Current project progress

Initial training courses were run in November 2005, with a full roll-out expected to commence in the first half of 2006.  Audits and retrofits of several supported and crisis accommodation premises are being carried out in November through December 2005.

Initially the project is being provided to people in the Sydney region, but will extend to organisations across NSW through 2006.

Outcomes and successes 

These programs are in development. No specific outcomes to report at this time.

Resource materials 

None available at this time.

How to get involved and find out more 

Get involved

If your organisation is interested in getting involved in this initiative please contact the Water & Energy Project Officer at NCOSS on (02) 9211 2599 or email energy@ncoss.org.au.

Find out more

Visit energy smart home to find out how energy efficient your home is, to discover what you can do to improve, and for further energy saving advice.

Find out more about NABERS (the National Built Environment Rating System).

Project partners 

Council of Social Service of New South Wales

Council of Social Service of New South Wales is the peak body for the social and community services sector in New South Wales.

Members range from the smallest community-based services to the largest welfare organisations. They include refuges, charities, church groups, local councils, consumer organisations, hospitals, and aged, disability and child care services. They also include peak support and advocacy groups that represent services at a regional and State-wide level.

NCOSS's vision is for a society where there is social and economic equity, based on cooperation, participation, sustainability and respect.

NCOSS plays a coordination, advocacy, policy development, leadership and information role for the social and community services sector in New South Wales.

Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability

The Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability was formed on 1 January 2004, incorporating the programs of the former Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), the Ministry of Energy and Utilities, and Town and Country Water.

It promotes the sustainable, safe, reliable and affordable supply and use of energy and urban water in NSW.

DEUS' Sustainable Energy Programs include the Energy Smart Home Rating (ESHR) and the National Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). These provide a performance-based rating system for existing residential or commercial buildings, on the basis of measured operational impacts on the environment.

 

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