The St Ambrose Church (and its two attached houses) has been part of the Brunswick community for over 140 years. It recently: installed greywater and rainwater systems, insulating ceilings, replaced electric heating with 5 star gas central heating, upgraded lighting, and purchased 100% GreenPower, and has numerous other plans to continue making savings and reducing its environmental footprint. 

Townsville’s Kath and Kin Association provides opportunities for people with psychiatric and physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and people with disabilities.

At Hidden Valley, 1.5 hours out of Townsville, rising diesel prices prompted this accommodation provider to improve their businesses energy efficiency.  This case study details some of their actions, including changing traditional light bulbs for energy-saving compact fluorescents, and replacing fridges with more energy-efficient models. 

Located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott Island Eco Resort has done extensive work reducing its energy consumption. Changes have yielded a 3.5 year payback, and saved $270,000 a year in fuel costs. This factsheet explains many of the resort’s initiatives, including its work promoting energy efficiency to guests. 

At the McIvor Road Vet Clinic in Victoria, an increase in demand for its services led to installation of new equipment. Energy bills went ‘through the roof’, and service demands meant switching equipment off was not an option. Instead, the Clinic installed additional insulation and a 10kW solar PV system, switched from halogen to light emitting diodes (LEDs), and installed a solar boosted, gas hot water system. Within 12 months, the Clinic’s energy use has been cut by 50%, saving $5000 per annum.

The owners of the Chocolate Lily Sustainable Stays B&B in Sedgwick wanted to incorporate as many energy efficiency practices as possible into their property. They significantly reduced their heating, cooling and energy costs by: installing low energy CFLs; installing R3.5 insulation; fitting double glazing windows; using a heat pump to provide hot water; installing a 3.32kW solar PV system; using solar to heat the outdoor pool; and using 100% Green Power for top-ups.

When e+ architecture’s ownership wanted to cut its rising energy costs, they got their team onboard making simple behaviour changes. Then, they changed lighting to more energy efficient options; installed timers to the electric hot water system; installed a 1.6kW PV system and began purchasing 10% Green Power. The combined actions saved the company $2025 a year, reducing its energy bills by 46% in 12 months. 

At Bendigo Community Health Services an energy assessment became the starting point for knowing how to reduce the organisation’s overall energy use. The result, implemented via Green Teams, saw a 6.1% energy reduction and annual savings of $5000, mostly thanks to: implementing a behaviour change program, changing how air conditioners were used; installing timers on hot water units; installing solar panels and replacing fluorescent tubes with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar tubes. 

At Goldfields Revegetation, a specialised plant nursery in Victoria’s Mandurang, the owners had a goal of reducing the company’s energy consumption by 30%. An energy assessment proved up to 70% savings were possible, and would save the company $6000 per annum. Reductions came from: replacing 50W halogens with energy efficient 35W halogens; installing motion sensors on external flood lights; fitting a timer to the electric hot water system; installing 1.6kW solar PV system; and numerous behaviour changes. 

Mercy Services provides in home and community support to various sectors of the community.  Environmental audits have spurred the organisation to make changes leading to a 16% reduction in gas usage and 23% in electricity usage (23,000 kWh) over a 5 year period.