BREAZE Inc. is delighted to have Sowmya Nargaraj on board as Project Manager of the Grampians Community Power Hub. Sowmya, who has Masters in Engineering (Sustainable Energy) RMIT, previously worked as a coordinator for the Victorian Healthy Homes program, helping to make homes more energy efficient and cutting GHG emissions. She brings both expertise and experience in the renewable energy sector to the G-CPH team. As she explains below, her passion for climate action goes back to her childhood:
"Since being a little girl, I’ve seen the environment around me change very drastically and have experienced a feeling of helplessness surround me when I first learnt about climate change and how our activities are contributing majorly to the deterioration of the planet.
The lack of Climate Crisis awareness and Energy Equity in the Australian community has become even more evident while delivering the Victorian Healthy Homes Project at AEF. Bridging these gaps by bringing awareness and investigating opportunities to address them has been a goal of mine as I strongly believe that they can become a reality when everyone works together to have a cleaner and greener environment to live in.
When I came across this opportunity, I was very keen to express my interest in the role as I believe that I would be able to actively contribute to our communities becoming more resilient and further equipped to tackle the Climate issues. "
As an Engineer in Sustainable Energy, Sowmya brings valuable technical know how and will be undertaking feasibility studies for the G-CPH as well as assisting in the earlier stages of assessing the viability of projects identified in the community engagement process.
Having Sowmya on board as Project Manager means more time for community engagement for the team of BREAZE volunteers, which includes, Peter Boadle, Paul Duggan, Mary Debrett plus mentorship from the 2017-2020 Ballarat CPH Project Control Group, also hosted by BREAZE, Peter Reid, Ian Rossiter and Ross Irving.
Sowmya and the BREAZE team will also be assisted by a newly appointed part-time Communications and Administration Officer.
Already known to many in Ballarat as the Host of BREAZE's Smart Living Ballarat Talks program, the Hub's newly appointed Communications and Administrative Officer, Sam Rodgers, has a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Sustainability Management) and is also accomplished in media/communications and events coordination. Sam previously held the position of Sustainability Officer, with Wyndham City Council and is a terrific asset to the G-CPH team.
The Australian energy and climate change provisions of our National Construction Code (NCC) are currently being updated after an 11 year long hiatus. While you might have thought that the IPCC's AR6 report calling a Code Red for emissions reductions would make it
This month as we move closer to the beginning of the Glasgow CoP 26, described by many commentators as our last chance for averting catastrophic climate change, the lack of any climate action policy at federal level continues. Even as global financial markets respond to international efforts to decarbonise, including the previously recalcitrant Australian Business Council, which has at last acknowledged the need to break with fossil fuels. Those endorsing Australia's potential to be a renewables superpower may have seen some signs of hope in moves to establish several green hydrogen hubs and renewable energy zones around the nation, which will enable the production of green steel, green aluminium, and reduce costs for manufacturing, driving new fields of green employment. Despite the lack of movement on bipartisan climate action at federal level, activists continue to drive local government action – the City of Boroondara – which encompasses much of the electorate of Kooyong, the seat of the Treasurer, Josh Frydenburg – recently endorsed the Declaration of Climate Emergency.
Are you unsure about what to put into your kerbside recycling? Do you want to reduce your waste to landfill but unsure where to start? Ever since the waste crisis in 2018 recycling has become a whole lot more confusing. To add to this, many local government areas have different contractors who collect and manage their waste. This month we will be talking to the City of Ballarat about how we can work together to reduce waste and recycle better.
In August 2021 BREAZE Inc.Project Manager, Peter Reid, signed off on the final report for DELWP's New Energy Jobs fund grant that enabled BREAZE to install solar and batteries at all four properties of Ballarat-based Pinarc - Disability Support provider: English Street, Golden Point ; Sturt Street, Ballarat Central; Otway Street South, Ballarat (Pennyweight Park) and Tait Street, Bonshaw. In all BREAZE Inc installed 76kW of solar PV and batteries at every site, totalling 40kWh.
The Grampians Community Power Hub is seeking community stakeholders with renewable energy projects in mind – perhaps a solar array on the local community hall, or solar across the roofs of a community-owned kindergarten or retirement village, or interest in solar-sharing via a micro-grid or community battery? On 29 September our panel of local experts, will be sharing their experiences in the rapidly expanding field of community energy. 
Sustainable House Day is an annual event that showcases some of Australia’s most sustainable and inspiring homes. With a community of over 400,000 people, Sustainable House Day is a trusted source of expert advice, insight and peer-to-peer education about building, retrofitting or renovating sustainably.