Renters
Moreland resident d’Arcy Lunn, 
signed up to ZCM in 2009 because he is passionate about all things environmental and social justice.
“While I work with an organisation that is trying to end extreme poverty globally I think acting locally is just as important.” He says being a ZCM participant has allowed him to share ideas and engage with others locally who are also working together to take action. This, he says, is “better than any possible written resource.”
D’Arcy enjoys the challenge of trying to live simply and within the finite resources available to us. “I take a holistic approach and look at housing, waste, transport, food, water and community participation.”
Zainil and her husband Michael signed up to Zero Carbon Moreland in August last year to learn more about what people in Moreland are doing collectively to help address the issue of climate change and peak oil.
Zainil thinks of Zero Carbon Moreland as “a depository of information for sustainability. I can find the information I need easily on the website. I don't have to go trawling the internet looking for information.”
Carol, a mother of two, rents a house in Pascoe Vale South and has recently returned to part-time work to support her young family. Through Concession Assist, Carol received a free home energy check-up, which saw her home draught proofed, light globes and shower head replaced and a ‘future switch’ installed (a central switch that turns off selected appliances around the house, reducing energy wastage from stand-by power).
Hal and his four housemates live in a share household and intentional community which they call The Urban Temple. They believe that real happiness does not come from buying a bigger plasma TV. Instead for them, the good life, and genuine sustainability, is to be found in nourishing the real needs of one’s soul. They aspire to live simply, to grow some of their own food, and to live their dreams… because the best things in life are free!
Charmaine Chew - Joyful sustainable living on a budget
Charmaine Chew has been renting with two friends for six years in Coburg, and is an inspiring example of what renters can do with a touch of resourcefulness and zest.
ZCM participant and mother of two Louise Davey's dream is to own her own home and set it up as a sustainability showcase. As a renter, her target is to make the household as self-sufficient as she can. She's already created a showcase for what you can do to avoid wasting water and energy.
Saving money and more
Louise hasn't had a water bill in three years, yet has kept a veggie garden flourishing through all the dry seasons, and her gas and electricity bills are well below average. However the fact that it saves her money is just a bonus. "No matter how much money I had, I'd still do it – it's who and what I am," says Louise.
Around the month of May MEFL did a series of audits to help some Zero Carbon Moreland participants take action around their home and Simon from Brunswick received one of these audits.
Simon had signed up to ZCM at the 2009 Sydney Road Street Party and had already taken some action around his share home before his audit. Pre-audit, Simon had installed heavy material over an open doorway to block off the uninsulated areas of the house and had segmented living areas whilst the gas heater was in operation. Making use of the curtains and a door snake to further block drafts and ensure that their gas heater was working efficiently helped to keep their home warm. Simon said that all these measures made a big difference comfort-wise throughout the colder months and were easy and cost-efficient.
Moreland Solar City project is part of the Australian Government's Solar Cities initiative, led by the Moreland Energy Foundation, in partnership with Moreland City Council, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Sustainability Victoria.
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