Forbes to be first climate saver town

Thursday, 21 December 2006

Article from Forbes News (Forbes is in country NSW, Australia).

Forbes Shire Council voted to accept an invitation to become Australia's first climate saver town at the regular monthly meeting on Wednesday.

The decision followed a presentation to councillors by Murray Hogarth, the campaign manager for Easy Being Green.

Easy Being Green is a Melbourne-based corporation that helps individuals, companies and communities cut their carbon dioxide emissions.

Council was almost unanimous in resolving to accept Easy Being Green's invitation to join the campaign, which will see Forbes households and workplaces replace incandescent light bulbs with energy saving globes, capable of providing 15,000 hours of light.

The 'Climate Saver Town' campaign will also provide households with AAA-rated low flow showerheads to replace existing fittings.

In his presentation before the meeting, Mr Hogarth told councillors the campaign could save participating households up to $150 off their energy bill each year and cut CO2 emissions by one tonne per annum.

Mr Hogarth said while about five per cent of Australians had already adopted energy saving technology at home and work, the remaining 95 per cent were the target for Easy Being Green.

The campaign corporation was established in 2004 by current chairman, the Reverend Nic Frances, formerly part of the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

Rev Frances is known for his social welfare activities and was awarded with an MBE in the United Kingdom for helping homeless people break the poverty cycle.

The CEO of Easy Being Green is Paul Gilding, the ex-head of Greenpeace International.

Mr Hogarth, a former environment writer with the Sydney Morning Herald, told councillors the energy saving campaigns allow Easy Being Green to trade carbon credits with industry.

He said the company hopes its various climate saver programmes can enlist 500,000 participants and cut C02 emissions by 500,000 tonnes every year.

The programme is free to council and ratepayers, however council would have to pay for any extra activities.

Councillor Graham Falconer said the programme was admirable but Forbes Shire Council could do little to prevent climate change while India and China were using increased amounts of fossil fuels.

Mr Hogarth conceded that light globe and shower head replacement in Forbes would not solve global warming, but said communities, business and all levels of government can make a difference by working together.

Councillor Murray Fraser said the programme was worth adopting, if only for the economic benefits to Forbes ratepayers.

Council later voted to accept Easy Being Green's invitation to become the first Climate Saver Town.

Easy Being Green has already applied for a $150,000 grant from the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability's Energy Savings Fund.