Remi

New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) – please have your say, we have.

As we mentioned previously, until we find viable projects to raise public funds for, we will carry out the role of advocate to put pressure on ensuring real climate action is taken, sooner rather than later.

To this end, there is a vital piece of policy that is in the throes of being finalised, being the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES).

Currently the Government is asking for public feed back about how hard we go with the new NEVS.

Our response has been to support Option C – which is the fastest option, whilst the governments preferred position is Option B which is go fast with flexibility.

We invite you to add your voice and complete this on line response.

This should only take a few minutes, and it could be your response that finally tips the scales in favour of getting the government to select the fastest action – Option C.  We set out below why we believe Option C is better than Option B.

Background

With the exception of Australia and Russia, nearly all advanced economies including the EU, US and China have adopted new vehicle policies that require manufacturers keep their average co2 per km of the cars they sell below a certain limit.  

In Europe, for example, the current average emissions target is 95g co2 per km, for all new vehicles, reducing to 49.5 by 2030 and Nil by 2050.

If a manufacturer, such as Volkswagen, sells a V6 Amarok Ute with a 231g co2km, then VW will need to sell 2 electric cars to bring the average below 95.

Currently in Australia we have no such requirement, so VW can sell as many Amaroks as it likes. This is the reason that the marketing changed in the mid 2010s to encourage the average Australian car buyer to suddenly want to drive a commercial vehicle that has barely changed since the 1970s. Since 2018, the most popular new cars are utes that put our twice the co2 of the previous best selling cars – being the Mazda 3 and Corolla.

The Australia NVES policy brings us more in line with the US, which incredibly now has 20% lower emissions than we have on new cars.

After what seems a rather longer than expected consultation with the industry, the government is now asking the public how hard we should go with this policy. There are three options being: Option A – Slow Start; Option B – Fast, but flexible; or Option C – Fast start

The government produced a document called “Cleaner, Cheaper to Run Cars: The Australian New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. Consultation Impact Analysis” which attempts to show the pros and cons of the different Options. (It’s a pretty in depth read!)

Please complete the survey as you see fit, and feel free to use any of the arguments we put forward below.

We supported Option C for the following reasons:

  1. Financially Option C gives best net benefit $114.9bn when compared to Option B which is $96.46bn 
  2. Recent  on going “Extreme” weather indicates a need to act as fast as possible
  3. We should aim to equal or exceed EU standards, not the US, because we are one of the most urbanised countries in World, with UK and EU being more rural than we believe we are. Very few of the total kilometres we Australians drive are now on a dirt road anymore, so the need for large and rugged vehicles has passed.
  4. The current ute obsession is a purely the result of car manufacturers directing marketers to put all their efforts into promoting vehicles that all were allowed due to a lack of a vehicle policy in 2010s. Within another few years, the buying public will have moved on. (Indeed, it is worth considering that most of the non-tradesmen buyers of utes today, would not have been seen dead in such commercial vehicles a decade earlier. It is all mostly a fiction created by the advertising industry)
  5. Why should Australians be restricted in what cars they can buy, because there is no incentive to the manufacturer to supply us (The electric equivalent of the most popular car of all time, the  VW Golf is the ID3, which is not sold here as there is no incentive to do so)

With regards to why we are not supporting the governments preferred Option B we stated:

  1. Any flexibility will be exploited by any future government that is not sympathetic to climate action Recent “Extreme” weather indicates a need to act as fast as possible
  2. Table 5 of their analysis in their report indicates that Option C would be detrimental on Equitable and Enabling grounds, which we feel is incorrect as Australia is a very small market, and would not influence car manufacturers with regards to either  ICE or EV production.

Thank you…

By Remi, ago

Repower Roseville School (NSW) – FUNDED

Schools have the perfect profile for solar, as they operate almost exclusively during day light hours.

Background

Public schools in Australia emit thousands of tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) per year due to their energy consumption. Schools however need safe, well lit and comfortable classrooms and facilities in order to provide the best possible learning environment. ​Currently most public schools are getting their electricity from the grid which, in Australia, still relies heavily on dirty fossil fuel power. Not surprisingly, our schools are racking up huge power bills which are ultimately funded by us, the taxpayer.  Even more costly is the huge impact the emissions from schools are having on climate change.

The benefits

Schools are perfect sites for solar as they often have large unshaded roofs and high daytime energy consumption to use the energy when the sun is shining.

Solar power benefits schools and our wider communities by:

  • Reducing carbon emissions

  • Shrinking ongoing energy expenses

  • Providing parents and our future generations with direct exposure to renewable energy

  • Visually demonstrating local climate change solutions in action

The School

Situated in the Northern suburbs of Sydney, Roseville Public School was established in 1913. Steeped in history, Roseville Public School was one of the first schools established in this area.

Currently this primary school is co educational, and has more than 660 children enrolled, of which nearly a quarter are from a non- English speaking background.

The school encourages staff and the wider community to work with students, to make them into responsible, questioning, and critically thinking young students. Various programs cater to individual students’ needs, including a variety of enrichment programs such as urban sustainability (Enviro Kids), STEAM program, visual artist, music (band programs), and philosophy.

The school works closely with The Parents and Citizens Association (P&CA) and the School Council to provide strong support and leadership in the development, direction and funding of educational and other initiatives, such as this solar proposal.

Dick Smith the entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and political activist is one of the more famous Australians to have attended Roseville Public School

Our Partnership

The P&CA at Roseville Public School approached  Solar my School to assist them with identifying the most appropriate solar power system for their school; help with the securing funding; and getting the system installed without undue pressure being applied to the staff running the school.

We are extremely proud to partner with Roseville Public School and its partners to get their solar project delivered. One of the partner organisations is Solar my School who have vast experience in this field with three other eastern suburb projects already delivered.  Their experience and expertise in delivering on time and on budget projects adds to our confidence of working with them and to committing our community funds to this solar project.

In addition, as part of due diligence commitment, we have reviewed the information received from the various partners to the project and that of their consultants and found it to be factually accurate and above board.

The project

ACAF, partnering with Solar my School to assist to the funding of projects which may never get off the ground as Solar my School is sometimes unable to secure the last 10%-25%. This shortfall could be as little as $5,000, and this is where ACAF can be facilitate great emission reductions for a relatively small contribution.

Respected energy consultants Enhar carried out a detailed assessment for Roseville Public School last year and recommended a 53.3kw system for the school. Enhar estimated that the system would supply approximately 33% of the school needs and in addition (due to weekends) it could export up to 30% of what it generated to the grid.

Schools are perfect for roof top solar, as they almost exclusively operate in daylight hours and have little demand for power after the sun goes down. Installation of the system also provides great practical case studies for children to learn about science (how solar power is generated), how emissions affect our climate, and what practical action can be taken to reduce emissions.

The total cost of the system is estimated to be approximately $56,000. The Department of Education provide 50% of the funding, with $28,000 to be funded by the school and its supporters.  Solar my School and the P&CA have already raised just over $20,000 leaving them approximately $7,500 short of their target. 

The Roseville Public School solar project has been the only project that the Board of ACAF has been prepared to put forward to our member as worthy of support.   This is our opportunity of putting community funds toward a project which fulfils our core principle of reducing CO2 emissions. Compared to a Carbon Credit scheme, the Roseville Public School solar system will remove over ten times more CO2 from the atmosphere.  

Your contribution

You too can now make a positive contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions   by donating funds to enable this project to go forward. Even a contribution of $5.00 equates to one tonne less of CO2 in the atmosphere. 

Please go to our Donations page now (see the button below) and givens much as you can.

To help us get the message out to as many people as possible we would appreciate you sharing this request with your family and friends and on your socials.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours.

By Remi, ago

Repower our Community Housing

Installing Solar panel on a Community have the double benefits to contribute to our climate purpose as well as helping the tenant with their electricity bills.

Background

Public schools in Australia emit thousands of tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2) per year due to their energy consumption. Schools however need safe, well lit and comfortable classrooms and facilities in order to provide the best possible learning environment. ​Currently most public schools are getting their electricity from the grid which, in Australia, still relies heavily on dirty fossil fuel power. Not surprisingly, our schools are racking up huge power bills which are ultimately funded by us, the taxpayer.  Even more costly is the huge impact the emissions from schools are having on climate change.

The benefits

Schools are perfect sites for solar as they often have large unshaded roofs and high daytime energy consumption to use the energy when the sun is shining.

Solar power benefits schools and our wider communities by:

  • Reducing carbon emissions

  • Shrinking ongoing energy expenses

  • Providing parents and our future generations with direct exposure to renewable energy

  • Visually demonstrating local climate change solutions in action

The School

Situated in the Northern suburbs of Sydney, Roseville Public School was established in 1913. Steeped in history, Roseville Public School was one of the first schools established in this area.

Currently this primary school is co educational, and has more than 660 children enrolled, of which nearly a quarter are from a non- English speaking background.

The school encourages staff and the wider community to work with students, to make them into responsible, questioning, and critically thinking young students. Various programs cater to individual students’ needs, including a variety of enrichment programs such as urban sustainability (Enviro Kids), STEAM program, visual artist, music (band programs), and philosophy.

The school works closely with The Parents and Citizens Association (P&CA) and the School Council to provide strong support and leadership in the development, direction and funding of educational and other initiatives, such as this solar proposal.

Dick Smith the entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and political activist is one of the more famous Australians to have attended Roseville Public School

Our Partnership

The P&CA at Roseville Public School approached  Solar my School to assist them with identifying the most appropriate solar power system for their school; help with the securing funding; and getting the system installed without undue pressure being applied to the staff running the school.

We are extremely proud to partner with Roseville Public School and its partners to get their solar project delivered. One of the partner organisations is Solar my School who have vast experience in this field with three other eastern suburb projects already delivered.  Their experience and expertise in delivering on time and on budget projects adds to our confidence of working with them and to committing our community funds to this solar project.

In addition, as part of due diligence commitment, we have reviewed the information received from the various partners to the project and that of their consultants and found it to be factually accurate and above board.

The project

ACAF, partnering with Solar my School to assist to the funding of projects which may never get off the ground as Solar my School is sometimes unable to secure the last 10%-25%. This shortfall could be as little as $5,000, and this is where ACAF can be facilitate great emission reductions for a relatively small contribution.

Respected energy consultants Enhar carried out a detailed assessment for Roseville Public School last year and recommended a 53.3kw system for the school. Enhar estimated that the system would supply approximately 33% of the school needs and in addition (due to weekends) it could export up to 30% of what it generated to the grid.

Schools are perfect for roof top solar, as they almost exclusively operate in daylight hours and have little demand for power after the sun goes down. Installation of the system also provides great practical case studies for children to learn about science (how solar power is generated), how emissions affect our climate, and what practical action can be taken to reduce emissions.

The total cost of the system is estimated to be approximately $56,000. The Department of Education provide 50% of the funding, with $28,000 to be funded by the school and its supporters.  Solar my School and the P&CA have already raised just over $20,000 leaving them approximately $7,500 short of their target. 

The Roseville Public School solar project has been the only project that the Board of ACAF has been prepared to put forward to our member as worthy of support.   This is our opportunity of putting community funds toward a project which fulfils our core principle of reducing CO2 emissions. Compared to a Carbon Credit scheme, the Roseville Public School solar system will remove over ten times more CO2 from the atmosphere.  

Your contribution

You too can now make a positive contribution to the reduction of CO2 emissions   by donating funds to enable this project to go forward. Even a contribution of $5.00 equates to one tonne less of CO2 in the atmosphere. 

Please go to our Donations page now (see the button below) and givens much as you can.

To help us get the message out to as many people as possible we would appreciate you sharing this request with your family and friends and on your socials.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we will endeavour to get back to you within 24 hours.

By Remi, ago

Future Projects

As a member of ACAF you have the opportunity to vote on where you wish to invest the community funds.

The only project the Board of ACAF has received to date that fulfis our core principle of significantly reducing CO2 emissions is the Roseville Public School solar project.  They have approached ACAF for top-up funding to install a 53.3Kw solar system.  

Information regarding the project can be located here.  Once you have read the information we have provided, you will have an opportunity to vote to either support the project or to have your funds held back for a future project.

Voting commences on (date) and closes on (date).*

*If you choose not to complete a vote, this will be taken by ACAF as acceptance of the “Repower our Schools – Roseville (NSW) project.

By Remi, ago