2008 saw 4 surf clubs in SE NSW set up with renewable energy (Tathra, Jindabyne, Moruya and Naroma). Pambula, Bermagui, and Broulee are underway with fundraising, and LSE moves out of the region, with Mollymook surf club set to go.
In 2009 CEFE are keen to expand LifeSaving Energy to include the Rural Fire Service. Next year we will be holding swims to raise money for solar panels for the Jindabyne, Tathra and Bermagui fire stations. If we can manage to get a 2kw system onto each fire station, that ought to make about $1000 per year.
What I'm hoping we can do is pool the money from each of the stations, and put it towards the next RFS installation. If we can get 20 RFS stations set up with solar panels, that generates $20 000 a year. That is a great target to aim for as the solar panel installations would then become self funded.
When a Feed In Tariff gets introduced and solar panels become cheaper, the whole equation starts to look a whole lot better. LifeSaving Energy moves to the Rural Fire Service with a vengeance.
We will continue to help surf clubs, churches and schools get set up with solar panels and wind turbines throughout 2009.
Matthew Nott
Click on Life Savers for infomation on 2009 Big Swim series
There are hundreds of photos from all the swim events in the gallery section
LIFESAVING ENERGY 2008
Australia's biggest sand sign 8/6/08. Concept by Les Brown. Photo by Leesa Lewington of Coastcolour Photography Merimbula
LifeSaving Energy is a campaign to get every surf club in the country set up with renewable energy. It was launched Tathra in the summer of 2007 with solar panels and a wind turbine installed on the roof of the Tathra surf club. CEFE managed to get good national media coverage, and we had calls from all round the country, but for some reason the idea just didn't have the legs to turn itself into a national campaign. CEFE decided instead to focus on surf clubs in our region. SE NSW has 7 surf clubs, although the Bermagui surf club is yet to get a club house. As of August 2008 we have managed to get the Tathra, Jindabyne and Moruya surf clubs set up with renewable energy, with Narooma and Pambula surf clubs to follow in the near future. A wind turbine and solar panels will be launched on the Narooma surf club on 19/10/08.
The funding for the installations has come from the LifeSaving Energy Big Swim series, with strong support from local business and councils. I am hoping that CEFE can work in partnership with Surf Lifesaving Australia to set up a national LifeSaving Energy Big Swim series. The impact that this campaign has had at a regional level has been enormous, and it would be very exciting to roll this out as a national campaign. We are hoping to do just that at an EcoSurf human sign in Bronte on 12/10/08.
For all the photos of all the Lifesaving events (launches, human signs and LifeSaving energy big swims), go to the gallery section. Also go to the LifeSaving Energy Big swim series page.
LifeSaving Energy Narooma launched 19/10/08
Life saving clean energy STAN GORTON 22/10/2008 2:09:00 PM THE Narooma Surf Lifesaving Club is now totally energy neutral and should even be putting power back into the national power grid. Sunday saw the grand launch of the solar panels and wind turbine recently installed at clubhouse thanks to money raised from this year’s Life Saving Energy Big Swim and contributions from the Eurobodalla Shire Council and the Federal Government. Representatives from the Clean Energy for Eternity, including founder Matthew Nott, members of the Narooma Surf Lifesaving Club, helpers and generous donators all enjoyed a barbecue lunch and drinks on the deck. The weather was perfect and both the solar panels and wind turbine were hard at work, with special boxes inside the club giving read outs on how much power was being generated. Matthew Nott said Narooma was the fourth club in the region to be energy neutral with the others being Jindabyne, Moruya and Tathra. Pambula and Broulee should be joining them within months making all the South Coast clubs clean and green. There are also funds for Bermagui, as soon as they can build a clubhouse. “We would like to see all 305 surf clubs across Australia join in and there is already talk of a national big swim to raise funds,” Mr Nott said. “This is a community campaign with some council support and it turning into a national campaign, so people in the south east should be really proud.” Of $50,000 cost, about $20,000 was raised from the Big Swim, Eurobodalla Shire Council kicked in $7500 and there was a 50 per cent rebate from the Federal Government. Installed was a 2kw solar panel, twice the capacity of the Tathra panel, and a 400-watt wind turbine. The devices had already made the club at least $40 and club members were counting on the devices reducing the club’s $1200 to $1500 a year power bill. Once again, the club president Steve Dobson said members would like to thank all those involved in organising the Lifesaving Energy Big Swim, entrants, supporters and kind donators for making the project such a success. The next Big Swim, this time from the bridge to Bar Beach only, will be held on Sunday, April 5 and will proudly remain named “The Lifesaving Energy Big Swim”. In keeping with the project to aim for energy efficiency and minimising the carbon footprint, it is envisaged that next year’s funds will go towards installing solar hot water and energy efficient lighting throughout the clubhouse. Councillor Chris Kowal said he was proud of the council decision to provide funds and now the benefits were being seen first hand. “I’m proud to see Narooma come on line,” Clr Kowal said. Mr Nott said the current calculations were that sea level could potentially rise 3mm a year. “Rising sea levels will impact the entire South Coast,” he said. “It’s a matter of survival that we tackle this – it will have a huge impact on small towns, their economies and real estate.”
Moruya surf club gets its renewables ON! July 08
2 KWatt solar panels on the Moruya surf club....beautiful
The hardworking volunteers from Moruya Surf Lifesaving Club, together with contractor Clay Stafford, installed the first of the renewable energy systems on the north facing wall of the club house on the last weekend in June 2008. The new Photovoltaic Cells with a 2KW capacity that are now providing energy for the club is the first stage of the installation project. Solar Hot Water systems are on their way as is a wind turbine to boost the energy supply. Moruya Surf Club representative Mike Hallahan is thrilled that installation has begun. "It’s great that the Surf Club will be able to reduce its energy bills and the money saved can be used for much needed things such as equipment to support our Life Savers, Nippers and members” he says.
The entire project has been spearheaded by a joint collaboration of local climate action group Clean Energy for Eternity and Lifesaving Australia (through the local branch . A swim paddle event held on the Moruya River in May saw over 100 hundred competitors brave the cool water and raise money for the Lifesaving Energy Project by gaining sponsorship from the wider community. Local businesses have also been very supportive. “It is becoming very apparent that the general population want to do all they can to reduce our impact on Climate Change.” Local co-ordinator for Clean Energy for Eternity Gabriele Harding says. “By seeing public buildings install renewable energy systems shows leadership and forward thinking at a local level.”
A date is yet to be set for the official opening of the new renewable systems.
Jindabyne Surf Club 3/5/08
Renewable energy sure makes for nice trim on a surf club roof.
Lifesaving energy comes to our town
DENISE DION Summit Sun
24/04/2008 Summit Sun
By now the meter should be starting to wind back for the Jindabyne Surf and Sailing Clubs after the installation of solar panels, a solar hot water system and a wind turbine on Tuesday.
Driven by the Jindabyne Yabbies Surf Lifesaving Club and Dr Matthew Nott from Clean Energy for Eternity (CEFE) the events that raised the money for the renewable energy installation, were huge successes in their own right.
The Lake Jindabyne 7km Big Swim was part of the Flowing Festival in February and attracted wide attention and support for the clean energy project.
The Jindabyne Yabbies Club is only the second, Tathra was the first, to get clean energy installed by already other clubs along the south coast are involved in similar fund raisers.
The installation not only provides a strong statement of the community's commitment to renewable energy but is saving the club money too.
Steve Garrett from Pyramid Power, the company that carried out the installation, said that the club should never have to pay another electricity bill again because credits in the summer would pay for electricity used in the winter months.
The money saved will be put towards the next project, which is getting water tanks installed.
Yabbies President, Steve Cavanagh, was delighted with the community support. The project raised $19,500 and received a government rebate of $13,000.
An open day is planned for Saturday May 3 at 12.30 when there will be plenty of action and demonstrations on the water including a dragon boat challenge, a barbecue organised by the Jindabyne Lions and a chance to see the renewable energy system at work.
Tathra SLSC - Lifesaving Energy (summer 06/07)
Tathra SLSC showing solar and wind clean energy units in place.
Wendy Frew Environment Reporter Sydney Morning Herald January 20, 2007
SURF clubs, best known for saving lives, are now saving energy. The Tathra club, in a campaign it hopes to take national, will today unveil a $20,000 renovation that includes a wind turbine and solar power panels.
The refit will greatly reduce the club's greenhouse pollution and cut its electricity bill by an estimated $1000 a year.
The joint venture, between a local group, Clean Energy for Eternity, Bega Valley Shire Council and the Tathra Surf Club, is to be a model for Australia's other 304 surf clubs.
Already Bega Valley Shire Council has committed funds for a similar project at the nearby Pambula and Bermagui surf clubs, and Sydney surf clubs have phoned the organisers for information.
"The aim of the project is to provide the club with all its energy needs from renewable resources," said Matthew Nott, a local doctor and the founder of Clean Energy.
"The flow-on effects are twofold: by using sun and wind power we are freeing up money for the club to spend on life-saving equipment, and at the same time using the turbine and solar modules to educate people about the potential of these clean energy sources."
Bega Valley Shire Council provided $10,000 towards the Tathra refit, and the club received a $4000 Federal Government rebate. The balance of funds came from the local community.
The far South Coast branch of Surf Life Saving NSW has backed the project, and four more South Coast clubs intend to install renewable energy systems.
"I think it is one of the better conservation ideas to come up, and I can't see any problems with getting other clubs on board," said the branch president, Dave Pheeney.
Tathra Surf Club has been fitted with a twin-blade wind turbine two metres in diameter and one-kilowatt solar modules on its roof. The system is connected to the electricity grid. Whenever the cells and turbine generate electricity, it is put into the grid, in effect winding back the club's electricity meter.
Clean Energy For Eternity's 38th human sign. The sign was formed in a 30 minute interval half way through a free concert in Jindabyne as part of the Flowing Festival celebrations. Just on dusk in the cold mountain air, with heavy dark clouds threatening,LifeSaving Energy was launched in the mountains.
Broulee Human Sign Movie
1000 people gather on Broulee Beach to for the human sign "LifeSaving Energy". March 2007 was perhaps the most miserable day of the year. A classic movie! Click below...
Broulee Beach in the pouring rain 2007
1000 people in the pouring rain have got to be there for a good reason.
LifeSaving Energy...city style
Australia’s largest human sign a fitting message in launching Life Saving Energy
Over 500 stakes in the sand helped form 16 letters with the participation of five church groups, four schools, three surf clubs, two businesses and ultimately one word – Life Saving Energy.The national launch of Life Saving Energy attracted almost 5,000 people to Sydney ’s recently voted cleanest beach, North Steyne , last Sunday.
The show of strength by local communities concerned by climate change was a message to the nation and the world that we need to mitigate now and that with rising sea levels, our national icons, the 305 surf clubs that lie at risk on Australia’s coastline, are at the sharp end of that change. "It is communities that are driving a change in the way that we think about energy,” said Clean Energy For Eternity’s Dr Matthew Nott.
A hot and often exhausting day saw Matthew and a number of guest speakers talk passionately about the significance of our surf clubs to the broader community, our cultural heritage, and the threats they will suffer in the long term if no action is taken to mitigate climate change."Surf clubs are on the front line when it comes to climate change. It’s not simply a matter of moving a club house further inland. It’s not about determining how surf clubs will adapt to rising sea levels.“It’s about surf clubs installing green renewable technologies and leading the way for the rest of the community to follow. It’s Life Saving Energy being a huge driver of change at a community level.”Which makes the efforts of Clean Energy For Eternity more powerful now that the Labor government has ratified the Kyoto protocol while stipulating a 60% renewable energy target by 2050 for Australia .
Speakers at the national launch of Life Saving Energy, an event devoted to Ocean Care Day, included Manly Mayor Dr Peter Macdonald, Manly Council’s general manager, Henry Wong, head of Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) for the Northern beaches, Gordon Laing, and Bernadette Connole from the Climate Change Institute. Dr Macdonald has been an inspiration to the local community with his proposal to fund and fit all three surf clubs on Manly beach with renewable energies. The former doctor of patients and now self proclaimed doctor of the environment saw the alignment of Clean Energy For Australia with Australia ’s surf clubs as a major step to uniting all communities throughout Australia in acting against climate change.He said that Life Saving Energy was a deliberate campaign to have all surf clubs in Australia operating on green technology. To support this he referred to North Steyne Surf Club, in celebrating its centenary this year, recently installing rain water tanks and solar panels to become energy efficient.
SLSA’s Gordon Laing believes that the leadership shown by CEFE is vital in tackling climate change.“Our clubs are being inspired to think globally and act locally with the installation of energy efficient products.“This campaign is about raising community awareness and educating our members and the rest of the community about energy efficient and sustainable practices.“It’s also about reducing our carbon footprint while creating a business opportunity out of climate change allowing us to redirect our funds into our core business which is saving lives.”
As part of the Ocean Care Day Festival, the human sign become Australia ’s largest community sign organised over the past two months by the Manly chapter of Clean Energy For Eternity.On the Saturday prior to the event CEFE’s Manly Chapter convenor, Ron Krueger and CEFE Bega’s Derek Povel were hot on the mobiles talking to the press with over dozen radio spots during the day preceded by mentions in local media.Video footage taken from a helicopter which eventually arrived to the delight of hundreds of screaming nippers, will be incorporated into a forthcoming documentary. A vox populus, ably executed by 12 year environmental activist Ellis Cooper and incorporating comments from local church leaders, politicians and school principals, will be support the documentary.
According to Ron Krueger, the last two months’ organisation was a remarkable journey in not only logistics and coordination, but also understanding the community’s concerns about climate change.“I’ve met some very passionate individuals who, in their own right, are creating a groundswell of activity around climate change. There are, for example, some very contemporary thinking leaders of churches who are focusing their sermons on our community’s moral duty to act against climate change.“You have to be impressed when several congregations get pulled from their morning services to attend Australia ’s largest human sign!
Ron and his team from Manly Council and the North Steyne surf club attracted a number of individuals to assist including over a dozen local artists – including four young men with a disability from Manly’s Bear Cottage – who helped create magnificent pieces of art to assist the public in identifying their letters on the day. “There’s been a flood of emails and responses from people on the street that have ignited greater interest in climate change. However, we need to do more than just stir people’s emotions; we need to have individuals, families, and communities throughout Australia taking immediate steps to avert the rising tide of climate change.”
There was a fitting end to official proceedings on the day with local aboriginal elder and musician Kevin Duncan, playing the didge and singing an ancient song its lyrics showing the importance of connecting with our land and oceans as a sign of respect and sustainability.As for emcee Wendy Harmer. There’s no better wit in Australia to inject a lot of good fun and life into proceedings!Thank you to everyone who supported the day. Cheers Ron Krueger Clean Energy For Eternity Manly Chapter
The Tathra Surf Club’s switch to renewable energy in 2006 received great support from the community of this town on the NSW south coast. The wind turbine and solar panels installed on the roof save the surf club nearly $1000 per year in energy costs, are a highly visible demonstration of how renewable energy works and save our atmosphere about three tonnes of CO2 each year.
The installation was part of the LifeSaving Energy campaign by Clean Energy for Eternity, a community group on the NSW south coast.
According to Matthew Nott, spokesperson for Clean Energy for Eternity, the project received a lot of positive feedback. “What this project has done is show people how easy it is to install renewable energy onto a rooftop. The technology is ready to go and the equipment was installed quickly and easily.”
In fact, the project went so well that Matthew started thinking of an ambitious campaign – to switch every surf club in Australia to renewable energy.
“It makes for a strong statement - 305 surf clubs in Australia set up with renewable energy,” says Matthew, “And I wonder how many surf clubs there are on the planet?”
Clean Energy For Eternity first plans to switch all seven surf clubs in south east NSW to renewables by the end of 2008, before going national with the LifeSaving Energy campaign.
To raise money for the project, Matthew’s team started the LifeSaving Energy Big Swim, a series of 7-kilometre swims around south east NSW. The first Big Swim across Lake Jindabyne raised $20,000, just enough to install 2kw solar panels and a 400w wind turbine on Jindabyne surf club.
More Big Swim fundraisers will be held throughout 2008 in NSW, each linked to one lucky surf club. A Big Swim in the Bega River is even raising money for a wind turbine for Tathra Primary School (“This 7-kilometre swim is on the June long weekend in water that may be as cold as 10 degrees!”)
And Matthew has much bigger ideas in the pipeline.
“I am looking forward to working with Surf Life Saving Australia to set up a national LifeSaving Energy Big Swim, with surf clubs in each state holding a Big Swim on the same day to raise money for surf clubs. That will have some impact.”
