Connecting communities through sustainable energy solutions

In Victoria, a number of communities are combining local energy infrastructure and engagement programs in order to bring the notion of energy closer to individuals. These communities are demonstrating a range of creative and innovative distributed energy solutions. Their approaches involve increased community engagement, energy efficiency, shared energy across site boundaries, decentralised energy generation (such as solar technologies, cogeneration, wind and biogas) and market based mechanisms to address local energy needs in a sustainable way across a precinct. Some examples of these communities that are leading the way in environmental, social and economic outcomes include: - Ashburton community precinct project: gas-fired cogeneration will be used to supply heat and electricity to the Ashburton pool and recreation centre and electricity to a nearby child care facility. Educational and dynamic signage will be installed onsite to increase awareness of energy outputs from the cogeneration system. - Redevelopment of the Carlton housing precinct involving the installation of low carbon energy technologies across three social and private housing precincts combined with extensive community engagement programs to ensure sustained behaviour change and awareness. - Retrofitting and construction of buildings which feature best practice ecoprinciples and sustainable design measures at the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies (CERES) Eco House combined with public open days where people can see and feel the benefits on site. This paper will outline the principles behind each community, explore the lessons learnt from projects and look at the achievements and barriers faced in the current environment in order to transition to local decentralised energy systems.