About BREAZE
Our mission
To protect and enhance the natural environment and increase environmental sustainability within the region by promoting and developing renewable sources of energy and significantly reducing the region’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
BREAZE aspires to facilitate, encourage and educate the wider Ballarat community towards a goal of zero emissions by 2030.
BREAZE volunteers engage in advocacy, community education, fundraising and project management, for the installation and provision of renewable energy sources and improving efficiencies across local residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and transport sectors—to move the community towards a zero emissions future.
Recent BREAZE Projects
BREAZE Inc. lead the Victoria government funded Grampians Community Power Hub (2021-22) and Ballarat Community Power Hub Pilot Program (2017-20) and continues to work with government at all levels to promote sustainable living and transition our community to renewable energy. BREAZE also runs monthly talks funded by the City of Ballarat — Smart Living Ballarat— and the monthly evening talks—Green Drinks. The BREAZE Public Fund, which has ATO Deductible Gift Recipient status, runs the BREAZE Social Solar program, raising money from public and private donors and applying for funding from other agencies in order to install rooftop solar on social housing and the buildings of not-for-profits across the region. Find out more about this under the Programs menu.
Our history
BREAZE formed as a result of a groundswell of people meeting after Ballarat's 2006 "Walk Against Warming" rally at Lake Wendouree, when a group of concerned citizens decided there was a need for a community organisation to drive action on climate change. The concept was further promoted at the Environment Pavilion at the 2006 Ballarat Springfest Extravaganza. A public meeting was convened with representatives of the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, and a local steering committee was established.
The group hosted its first formal meeting at Aquinas University in February 2007 and later that month BREAZE became an incorporated body with an initial 44 signed up members. In its first 3 years, BREAZE arranged bulk purchase and installations of solar hot water and rooftop solar panels for its members, well before commercial suppliers were established in Ballarat.
In partnership with state and local government agencies and other environment groups BREAZE established the Smart Living Centre as a shopfront for the public to access information and assistance on sustainable use of electricity, gas, water, transport and information on local foods and preserving Ballarat’s biodiversity. BREAZE has grown quickly in membership numbers, and in reputation and is now a trusted and authoritative voice for the Ballarat community on all climate change issues.
In 2015 BREAZE Inc. separated from its commercial entity, which became Breaze Energy Solutions and continued to use of the Breaze name via a Trade Market agreement. BREAZE Inc. is a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.