Energy and Climate

Get involved

While it can feel overwhelming at times, there’s so much we can each do to act on climate change. When we all play our part, we inspire each other and our impact grows.

Click here to find out more about what you can do. 

Climate Emergency in Darebin

We are already experiencing more severe and frequent floods, storms, mega bushfires, droughts and heatwaves. Northern Australia has become wetter; southern Australia has become drier. In Darebin we are experiencing more days of above 35C which disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable community members.

These changes are the result of the build-up of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in our atmosphere. This is largely due to our heavy reliance on burning fossil fuels (petrol, gas and coal) for energy generation, and in transport, agriculture and construction.

This Snapshot Report shows the main sources of emissions in Darebin.  

Darebin’s Climate Emergency Plan outlines the leadership, advocacy and mobilisation directions this Council is taking to respond urgently, and at the scale required to address the climate emergency.

This plan has, at its heart, the understanding that we can find the solutions locally, nationally and globally by working together.

It has been three years since Darebin Council’s historic climate emergency declaration, and we are still calling for urgent State and Federal action on climate change. We have outlined five key demands relating to renewable energy, electric vehicles, construction and the use of recycled materials for roads, footpaths, products and packaging, to help Australia achieve zero emissions by 2030.

Darebin Climate Emergency Plan

We adopted the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan in 2017. Read the Darebin Climate Emergency Plan or the 8-page summary to see some of the steps that Darebin Council is taking. Click here to read more about what Darebin Council is doing to take action.

Want more information on Climate Change?

• The Climate Council provide independent, authoritative climate change information to the Australian public
• Darebin Residents Taking Action in the Climate Emergency
• Climate Change in Australia
• The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• NASA
• Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy
  

Fight for Planet A explores how we can all reduce our greenhouse gases in three key areas – energy, transport and food - while also calling on our leaders to step up and take urgent action to address the climate emergency. 

Please click here for more information on the Fight For Planet A TV show, what Darebin Council is doing to combat greenhouse gases, or for further information about what you can do at home and in your community. 

Darebin Council has developed written resources aimed at supporting other Councils who have either declared a climate emergency, or are wanting to.

A shorter summary document provides a framework and articulates key processes involved in a climate emergency response. A longer document links these processes to Darebin’s climate emergency journey and key actions and challenges. You can read these resources here:

• DCC Climate Emergency Resource

• DCC Framework

Solar Saver Program

Solar Saver helps Darebin residents, businesses and organisations to install solar panels - saving you money on your energy bills.

There are two streams of the Solar Saver program:

• Solar Saver Bulk Buy stream - where you pay the upfront costs 
• Solar Saver Rates stream - where Council pays the upfront costs and you pay it back over 10 years. 

Darebin Solar Saver
Rates Stream	Bulk Buy Stream
In 2020, only low-income households are eligible for this stream. (See Is my household eligible below.)	All Darebin residents are eligible to join.
Our waiting list for 2020 is currently full. You can still join the waiting list.	All Darebin businesses are eligible to join.
Council pays the upfront cost of the system.	You pay the upfront cost of the system, including GST.
You pay it back over ten years, interest free.	You may have more choice of products.
You don't pay GST.	You will get your system installed sooner.
Choices are limited to set packages at set prices. Batteries are not included.

I want to join the Bulk Buy Stream (I can pay upfront)

I want to join the waiting list for the Rates Stream

More about the Solar Saver Bulk Buy Stream

• We have done the homework for you, via a competitive tender process, to find a reliable installer and value for money.
• We have negotiated a 10-year warranty for parts and installation, and a 25-year performance warranty on panels.
• While we don’t use the most expensive products, we have set a high quality standard in terms of manufacturing quality and the efficiency of the system.
• Installers must be Clean Energy Council registered installers and adhere to strict safety and quality standards. 
• Many households may be eligible for the Solar Homes rebate from the Victorian Government, which can reduce the cost by $1850 (inc GST), and you may also be able to apply for a four year loan to the same value as your rebate. Going through the Bulk Buy stream also offers you more choice of products, and a shorter wait-time.
• The solar provider will assist you in applying for the Solar Homes rebate. Please visit Solar Victoria for more information about the rebate and to see if you are eligible.
• You pay the upfront cost of the system (including GST). Many households decide to finance this via their mortgage, however these decisions are up to each household based on what makes sense for them.
• Households can save money on power bills with estimated payback period on standard systems between 2-10 years (depending on your energy use, rebate eligibility, roof size and other factors).
• If you wish you can customise your solar system including, by adding a battery, choosing a different inverter (potentially including micro-inverters), different panels, or other variations.  Note that some customised options are at the discretion of the solar company and the prices may be different from the standard option.
• Businesses and other organisations can also register for the Solar Saver Bulk Buy (for installations up to 10kW).
• If you want to go ahead, you just need to let us know by registering below and choosing the Bulk Buy option and we will pass your contact details on to our solar provider. If solar is a viable option for you, you will be offered a no-obligation quote. The solar provider will talk you through what size of system will work for your house and your budget.

I want to join the Bulk Buy Stream (I can pay upfront)

• We'll pay the upfront cost for the system, and you (or your landlord) pay it off over ten years, interest free.
• The savings you make on your energy bills will more than outweigh your repayments to Council, leaving you better off.
• A range of sizes of systems are available. For most properties, the bigger the system, the better the payback.
• Council has done the work to help you access:
  - Quality systems
  - Extended warranties
  - A reputable supplier
• There have been three previous rounds of the Rates Stream of Solar Saver, with nearly 1400 households benefiting from the program. 

Is my household eligible for the Rates Stream?

If you answer YES to ANY of the following questions then you are eligible to join the waiting list for the Solar Saver Rates Stream.

• Do you have a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card?
• Do you receive ANY payments from Centrelink?
• Has your employment been affected by COVID-19 and are receiving JobKeeper payments from your employer or JobSeeker payments through Centrelink?
• Do you spend more than 30% of your total household income on rent or mortgage repayments, and your total household income is less than $74,000 per year?
• Does your household have a combined income of less than $59,000 per year?
• Does your household receive the Rates Rebate?

Please be aware that we may ask you to provide evidence for your answers. This is to ensure we are providing maximum access for our priority groups.

Frequently Asked Questions: Solar Saver Rates stream

Currently the Rates Stream is full, but you can still register now to join the waiting list for any future rounds of the program.
I want to join the waiting list for the Rates Stream

 

Read more in your language: Arabic, English, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Macedonian, Somali, Vietnamese.

Australian households generate about one fifth of Australia’s carbon emissions, which are causing rapid climate change. We can all take to take action on the climate emergency by making our homes more energy efficient and shifting towards renewable energy.

Energy Assist Program

You can access free independent advice on how to improve the efficiency of your home and reduce your electricity bills through the Energy Assist program offered by Brotherhood of St Laurence, Uniting and Australian Energy Foundation. Call 1800 830 029 or email energy@bsl.org.au to access this free service. Anyone impacted by COVID-19 is eligible. 

Webinar recording - Keep Cool, Save Money

To learn more about how you can Keep Cool and Save Money this Summer, check out our webinar recording. Our friends at Uniting give practical advice on how to keep your house cool and save on your electricity and gas bills. You can also view the slides from the webinar here.

Watch the Keep Cool Save Money Webinar.

Tips for saving energy at home

• The Energy Conservation Hierarchy

• Minimise energy use – use natural light, passive heating, and passive cooling where possible. Insulate and draught proof your home to keep summer heat out and winter heat in and reduce the need for additional heating and cooling. Check out these great DIY videos on how to draught proof your house.
• Use energy efficiently – choose efficient lighting such as LED and select appliances with a high Energy Star Rating. You may be eligible for rebates if you upgrade to energy efficient appliances: check out the Victorian Energy Saver site for details.  
  • Energy Efficiency Tips at Home from The Energy Charter
  • Easy English Guide on 'How to save energy and save money' from Scope Australia
• Use renewable energy – consider installing solar electricity and/or solar hot water, and buy renewable energy or switch to GreenPower. 
• Offset – your remaining emissions

The Sustainability Victoria website and this comprehensive resource from local experts EnviroShop have plenty of tips about how to save energy at home. If you are looking to build or renovate your home, Your Home has a wealth of information including free 7+ star house designs.

Energy Efficiency Toolkits coming soon

From early 2021 we will have energy efficiency toolkits available for loan through our libraries. These will be free for Darebin library members, and will help you assess what changes you might need to make to make your home more efficient.