Lower Emissions, Growing Communities

MEFL in partnership with Hume City Council received a generous grant from the Victorian Government's Community Action Fund to help run energy-saving workshops for Arabic and Turkish-speaking women's groups, local businesses and school kids.

$500 dollar-for-dollar funding is still available for a number of lucky businesses in Hume and Moreland to help make their workplaces more energy-efficient.

Any groups interested in taking part in workshops, businesses wanting energy audits or schools wanting to introduce energy issues into the classroom - please contact us at MEFL.

Case Study: Saving $$$ speaks all languages!

For women whose role is still firmly in the home, juggling the family finances is often a matter of great pride. Armed with a selection of the easiest, cheapest energy-saving tips Khadiga Hamed and Kerry Wise from MEFL and environment officer Bec Brown from Hume have been talking to Arabic and Turkish-speaking women's groups in both Moreland and Hume municipalities about ways to cut down on energy bills by saving energy.

Ideas expressed in English are translated into Arabic or Turkish.

Some women had already made energy-saving changes to their homes as a result of talks last year, replacing light globes with compact fluros, recycling water from their washing machines and in one case installing 'double-glazing' film on windows to slow down heat loss and gain.

The project hopes to continue talks and tours into next year, and is hoping to link into the business community with some $500 grants available to help with energy-saving changes.

Talks are followed up with a site visit to either the Origin Energy EcoHouse at CERES or St Kilda's Eco Center in the Blessington Gardens where energy-saving ideas can be seen at first hand. The women also enjoy comparing notes on herbs in the veggie gardens, and learning about water conservation.

Please contact Anna Strempel for details.

Also: Schools take on Lowering Emissions!
Find out more in our Schools section.