Follow the sun

By Monique Ebrington
UPPER Yarra residents have combined to create the valley’s first solar community.
The first panels were installed this month, with the solar community spanning East Warburton, Wesburn, Yarra Junction, Millgrove, Launching Place and Healesville.
Warburton resident Barry Sharman and his young family had solar panels fitted to their roof last Wednesday 20 May.
Mr Sharman said that while his family already used minimal electricity, the solar panels would supply half their home’s energy needs.
“I am green-minded and conscious of leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible,” Mr Sharman said.
“Solar power is a positive way of doing that. I can track the power that’s coming in from the solar energy and I’m also able to track the consumption of the appliances I have.”
His children have also taken an interest in the alternate energy source and Mr Sharman said he hoped it would encourage them to preserve the environment.
“They think it’s great and it’s teaching them to be green-minded as well,” he said.
“I think it’s important that they help preserve the future of their planet as well.”
Wesburn residents Michael and Heather* were the first family in the valley to get solar power installed as part of the community project.
The couple said that while they, and their teenage son Matthew, don’t have a lot of gadgets they hoped it would help them save money and the environment.
Millgrove Residents’ Action Group (MRAG) organised flyers, advertising and information nights to encourage residents to invest in solar power.
Residents in the solar community have the panels attached to their roof, a power tracking meter to view what energy is being used and what is being fed back into to the grid. MRAG committee member and Millgrove resident Luke Whiteside has driven the project.
He said the bright idea came about late last year as a solution to both pocket and planet concerns.
“I think people do want to make a difference in terms of climate change, but people don’t always know how to go about doing that,” Mr Whiteside said.
“We know energy costs are going up and we need to be better stewards of this earth.
“I saw this as being a benefit both environmentally and economically.”
He said that financially the Warburton (Bendigo) Community Bank was also a great help in organising loans for residents to cover costs, before they received the $8000 Federal Government rebate scheduled to end Tuesday 30 June 2009.
While he wasn’t expecting the community to share so strongly his interest in solar energy Mr Whiteside said he was pleased with the outcome.
“Initially I was looking for three to four participants then 25 and then 55 people began showing interest and became involved in the group. It’s been a great response,” he said.
The final solar power instalments are expected to be completed in the coming months with more than 40 families in the Yarra Valley introducing solar power to their homes as part of the project.
*Michael and Heather requested that their surname not be used in this story.