LifeSaving Energy is a campaign to get every surf club in Australia fitted out with renewable energy. Surf clubs are an iconic part of Australian culture, are run by community minded people, and are on the front line when it comes to climate change. With rising sea levels, they will be the first organisation to go under.
The Tathra Surf Club was the first surf club in Australia to become part of LifeSaving Energy. In the summer of 2007 it was fitted out with solar panels and a wind turbine. This was funded from community donations, and strong support from the Bega Valley Shire council.
The advantages for the surf club are three fold.
Firstly, renewable energy will save the surf club almost $1000 a year,
Secondly, the tathra surf club is seen by hundreds of people a day in summer, and it is demonstrating to many people that renewable energy works. Why does this benefit the surf club? Well, renewable energy is the quickest way of reducing our emissions, and will be an important way of slowing the rate of sea level rise. That has to be a good thing.
Finally, renewable energy at the surf club is saving our atmosphere 3 tonnes of CO2 each year, and that is great for all of us.

On Saturday 20 January the renewable energy project for the Tathra Surf Lifesaving Club was opened. Mayor Tony Allen officially launched the project, which includes a wind turbine and solar photo-voltaic cells on the roof of Tathra Surf Club. The next stage is to add a solar hot water service, which will see the Surf Club running with a negligible carbon footprint.

The benefit of renewable energy for the surf club is threefold.

Firstly, the installation will save the surf club about $1000 per year. More will be saved following the installation of solar hot water.

Secondly, education and awareness are important. We are showing people (lots of people in summer) that renewable energy can work. Remember that renewable energy is BY FAR the quickest way of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

Thirdly, we will be saving our atmosphere nearly 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. That is a modest start, but when our kids are 20 years older, every tonne of CO2 will be important.

The plan is to get every surf club in the country running on renewable energy before the end of 2007, and we have already had a lot of interest from surf clubs around the country. Clean Energy For Eternity will be meeting with Surf Lifesaving Australia shortly.

I would like to thank the Bega Valley Shire Council for their support in funding this project. The same assistance has been offered to the Pambula Surf Club and Bermagui Surf Clubs. I would also like to thank Steve Garrett and his team from Pyramid Power in Pambula for installing the system and working to a tight time frame. The Lions Club and Rotary have made large contributions, and the Australian Greenhouse Office has provided us with a $4000 rebate. Communities and individuals on the South Coast have supported this project with their donations and their enthusiasm.

Watch this space.

Matthew Nott
Clean Energy for Eternity