News and Events

C500 reaches 350 Households in September 2007

Now that the first 12 months is done and dusted, it is time to reflect on our progress. How many households have been involved? How many groups have contributed to C500? How many events and how much stuff has happened?

Here’s a quick (but lengthy) summary …

Household Program:

350 Households are on board – Nov 07

• 15 Energy Smart Workshops involving 180 households
• 100 Home Energy Assessments and visits
• 33 Households have done our online workshops
• 29 households involved in “Community Lead” workshops

Community Development Program:

17 local residents [some representing groups such as the Mount Alexander Shire, Castlemaine Community House and the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group] participated in the C500 Community Development Program – designed to build the capacity of local people to run their own community projects

• 92 households and 12 community groups involved in a Community Conference in March 2007
• Formation of a “Castlemaine Network” that will:
  • take over the running and direction of future household energy  and climate change projects
  • continue to build on each other’s projects and learn from each other

Community Lead Projects and Partnerships

Examples of Community Lead Projects that have happened as a result of C500 include:

1. Energy Smart Workshops staged by a C500  in the Tarrangower Community with 15 households
2. Another series of “community lead” Energy Smart Workshops planned for Newstead later this year
3. Council staff and community volunteers involved in running an Energy Smart Workshop with households involved in the Castlemaine Arts Network
4. The stage has been set to partner council in an initiative to target HACC funded households and assist HACC clients to reduce energy and save money in their homes
5. Community Lead promotion of the C500 project at a range of local markets and events including the Castlemaine State Festival, Winter’s Flat Primary School Fete and School Councils
6. 10 workshops run with children over the mid year school holidays to focus on renewable energy, recycling and the arts
7. 56 people attended a public meeting staged by a C500 Community Leader
8. Plus all of the “energy-smart conversations” that have happened throughout the Castlemaine community … on the street … at festivals and markets … within local networks and peer groups

Examples of Castlemaine 500 - Community Partnerships that have happened:

1. Council staff involved in a community wide mail out to promote the C500 Community conference
2. David Stretch at the Theatre Royal providing his venue for all C500 Energy Smart Workshops and other events
3. C500 and the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group have teamed up and contributed to each other’s projects and events including:
   1. Screening of “An Inconvenient Truth” at the Theatre Royal
   2. Training local people in business energy assessments and home energy assessments
   3. Information provision at the 2007 Castlemaine State Festival
4. Through Council Staff involvement, C500 was linked to the Award Winning Eco-Footprints Arts Project
5. Castlemaine 500 Project Info Displays at Castlemaine Community House, Home Hardware, Castlemaine Library and the Theatre Royal
6. Printz’s Plumbing (as the local Origin Energy Shop) provided logistical support in the distribution of over 900 Energy Saving Light globes to around 150 households
7. Origin Energy provided the C500 project with a box of 6 Energy Saving Light globes
8. Origin Energy and TRU Energy have partnered C500 in the provision of energy billing data for all consenting households in the project
9. The Mount Alexander Shire Mayor (Jim Norris) and other councillors have contributed to many C500 events
10. The following media and newsletter groups have provided us with advertising and editorial space for stories:
    1. Chewton Chat
    2. All primary and secondary schools
    3. Castlemaine Mail Office (both editorial and advertising staff)
    4. The Agitator
    5. Mayor’s Column
    6. Shire Rates Newsletter
11. The following groups and organisations have assisted with the recruitment of households:
    1. KR Castlemaine
    2. VIEW Women’s Group
    3. Mount Alexander Sustainability Group
    4. Mount Alexander Hospital
    5. CHIRP
    6. MASG

Disclaimer

The information and recommendations outlined in this WEBSITE is concerned mainly with providing guidance with respect to how a registered Castlemaine 500 household might be able to reduce energy consumption in their homes.  The information presented in the WEBSITE is derived from various sources and is understood to be correct and appropriate at the time of preparation.  However, the information may not be error free and may not be appropriate for a particular purpose should household circumstances, requirements, priorities or circumstances beyond the control of the Castlemaine 500 Project Team/Third Ecology (climatic patterns, client behaviour and expectations etc) create a different context in which original assumptions and decisions were based.  Householders should ensure that they are satisfied with the particular details and appropriateness of all areas of guidance and with respect to any involving the installation of ‘products’, their installation should comply with current Australian Standards, the Building Code of Australia and local authority requirements.  The Castlemaine 500 Project Team/Third Ecology accepts no liability whatsoever to any person for injury, loss or damage that may arise in connection with any use or reliance on the information.