Providing funding to community groups
The TRY Perpetual Energy Fund (PEF) raises funds from donations that are then reinvested in community projects around Yackandandah to increase energy efficiency, generate renewable electricity and for storage. Loans are repaid from the savings made on electricity bills and the Fund is perpetuated for community sustainability projects.
The first project was with the Yackandandah Health Service (YHS) in 2015. TRY raised $5,000, which was loaned to YHS for energy efficiency improvements. As part of the connection of a 90kW solar-panel system at the health service (YHS), 276 lights were replaced with low maintenance LED lights. These energy efficiency measures were just the start of a program to revolutionise energy use on site. Modelling is underway to map improvements to air conditioning and hot water systems, as well as a broader goal to reduce waste across the facility.
These initiatives will save the community-owned service $1 million over the next 25 years and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 115 tonnes annually – the equivalent of taking 23 cars permanently off the road. The loan was repaid using the savings in power bills and put back into the PEF for other community energy programs.
In its first year, the improvements saved the health service $35,000 and allowed it to retain the GP service that had been about to close. TRY also granted $1,500 to the Yackandandah Football and Netball Club to undertake energy efficiency measures, plus many other projects.
Any donations to TRY will help the renewable energy transition – with a plan to reduce our carbon emissions, lower energy costs and inspire a new local economy.
Your donation will help further community solar installations around our town! So, please dig deep to help our vibrant, progressive and passionate community achieve its goal of becoming 100% renewable. Your grandkids will thank you for TRY’ing.
You can donate here.