Our ' FIGHT FOR PLANET A -- AND WIN!' campaign continues to produce happy winners from locals who are contributing their stories via our dedicated Facebook group. Our December winners were Emily Wilson ( at right, in pic above left) who collected her $250 voucher at Spell & the Gypsy in Byron, while Karena Williams and her kids have now set up their new Subpod Grow Bundle (pictured above right). “It’s such a fabulous product!” Karena said. “Love how you can use its packaging for the product. It’s so well made. I can see it appealing to many newbies and old hats!”
Our January winners were drawn at random on 1 January (as our dedicated panel from COREM, Repower Byron Shire, Enova Community Energy and Resilient Byron were having a well earned break). Lotty Belamy is an avid rescuer and up-cycler of furniture in disrepair, while Susanna Evington’s entry described her purpose-built, passive-solar home. Their prizes are designed to “keep our community moving forward on our emissions-busting journey”, says campaign coordinator Sasha Mainsbridge.
New prizes for our excellent (and growing) prize pool! Vision Walks - Eco Tours have donated a ‘ Night Vision Walk for Two’ valued at $298. (Details on this local net-carbon-negative business in an upcoming e-news, or meanwhile , click here.) |
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At the ZEB 2020 AGM, we welcomed two members to the Directors team: returning Director Dr Muriel Watt (pictured back left), and ZEB Treasurer, Rob Goodwill (back right). Currently, Muriel is a key member of the ZEB EV Forum and webinars coordinating team, while Rob, active in the ZEB Buildings group, has been involved since his arrival to the area in mid-2019.
The latest ZEB Chair is Christobel Munson (seated front), a co-founding member, actively participating in ZEB activities since its inception in 2015.
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ZEB’s last official 2020 event was the screening of KISS THE GROUND to a full house at Byron Community Theatre on 7 Dec, followed by a panel discussion on Regenerative Agriculture and Food Security in the Byron Shire with event organiser, Vicki Brooke, with Aunty Lois, Rebecca Zentveld, Seb Berry, Blair Beattie, Charlie Arnott and ZEB RePlant coordinator, Wren McLean.
Pictured above from left: ZEB Community Engagement officer Sasha Mainsbridge, retiring ZEB Chair and now ZEB Ambassador, Vicki Brooke, and Seb Berry, from Resilient Byron.
Below: The lobby at Byron Community Theatre.
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Discussions such as that on 7 Dec, made us realise the need to broaden our vision for RePlant Byron, transforming it from a ‘tree planting group’ into an Alliance covering any planting groups, revegetation organisations or private landholders in the Shire who are restoring both habitat and drawing down carbon.
The aim: to draw down, and account for, a calculated 10% (27 Kilotons) of the Shire-wide CO2 emissions.
“The mission is to gain a big picture overview of what has been and what can be achieved collectively to transition to net-zero emissions whilst increasing biodiversity, water quality and soil stability,” says Wren McLean. Alliance members’ various tree plantings will be tallied up and collated.
Email Wren for details of the launch event, to be held mid-March at a demonstration farm, showcasing integrated ecological restoration and regenerative agriculture systems.
Pictured above:
Alice Moffett, an asset at any tree planting event, delivering seedlings. |
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Energy saving tip of the month:
Be Fair to your Fridge
Fridges can work extra hard this time of year, and chew through the power. As fridges stay on 24/7, their energy efficiency really matters. Check the back is clean and that the sides and top have room to ventilate the heat that builds up. Check if the freezer over full or iced up which would mean it is working harder than it needs to. Check the seals are still functioning well.
Talk with kids (and indecisive adults) about shutting doors promptly. Can you keep some ice blocks in a thermos on the bench instead of constantly opening the freezer section? Did you have an extra fridge going for Christmas that can be turned off now?
The most energy efficient fridge option is to have the smallest size you can manage with, and the most efficient and best quality model you can afford. Newer models are much more efficient than old types. Try to avoid extra bar fridges as they use quite a bit of power.
Check out NSW Government Incentives to save energy:
For businesses there are refrigeration, lighting and other offers, Click here.
For households, there is the halogen light replacement with LEDS offer. Click here.
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ZEB EV webinar #6.... 6-7pm, 2 Feb 2021. Wolfgang Roffman, Founder of e-Motion Concepts, will explain micro mobility and battery swaps for Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs). e-Motion focuses on “hyperlocal delivery and shared mobility” using LEVs. At the other end of the drive train, Glen Walker, Regional Director in Oceania for SEA Electric, will describe their tipper trucks, already in use by a number of local councils. Submit any advance questions to this email by 1 Feb 2021. MC Mick O’Regan will field questions.
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You may recall in a fairly recent ZEB Facebook post, we announced details of the Haystacks Solar Garden project. It enables people without a sunny roof, access to the many benefits of rooftop solar, via purchasing a plot in their solar garden, to be located on a farm in the NSW Riverina.There are still a few remaining solar plots available, only until the end of January. Apply for membership then register here.
"In line with a totally new way of doing life for 2021, Haystacks Solar Garden is continuing to break ground to allow those currently locked out of owning solar to share in its benefits” the Haystacks team advises. “With its DA now approved and memberships tantalising close to their target, the Haystacks team have opened up a tax-deductible donations portal to raise funds for community not-for-profit organisations in the Riverina. These donated social access plots are yet another benefit of how solar gardens can create a faster, fairer transition to a zero emissions energy system. Donate today here".
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Looking forward to an interesting year ahead,
Sasha Mainsbridge, Katrina Shields and Christobel Munson
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