Archive for July, 2008

Our thoughts on climate change went out last week and got picked up by Sue Mikkelsen from the Noosa Journal.

Media Release

Sunshine Coast businesses must provide their own incentives for customers to take climate-friendly actions and not rely solely on governments.

That’s the message from local businessman and Sunshine Coast Environment Council Treasurer Alexander Kohl, who started SolarPay in June to provide solar hot water for people who can’t afford the upfront costs.

“Every household who switches their hot water from electric to solar can prevent up to 3,000 kgs a year of carbon emissions, and save up to $700 a year in costs” he said.

“But even with rebates, getting a solar hot water system is initially expensive, and our research found this was people’s biggest barrier to getting solar hot water”.

SolarPay negotiated with the National Australia Bank to provide finance “so people can get the system now and pay it back with their electricity savings”.

SolarPay does not make a profit on the payment, so Alexander Kohl may not be making the same money as he once did producing events for BMW and Adidas.

The father of two said “I had to change my attitude and realise that sustainable businesses can and do succeed”.

“Taking action as a business is about putting the planet and our future first and leading, not following” Kohl said.

You can find out more about solar hot water, calculate your system costs and rebates and order a system in minutes online with our calculator.

BIO: Alexander Kohl

“My vision is to find solutions that benefit the environment on a large scale AND reward the people directly.

My interest in sustainability has always been with me as the only natural way to operate and think. Some of my defining moments happened during the production of the BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002. The final event was held in Johannesburg, South Africa at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. I was blown away by the many companies that actively pursued more than profit.

When I produced the Sustainable Living Festival 2004 in Melbourne, I experienced the passion of volunteers who put in many hours to successfully promote what they believe in.

The biggest blocks to sustainable living seem to be added expense and inconvenience. Individuals bear these while society as a whole is benefitting.

My vision is to find solutions that benefit the environment on a large scale AND reward the people directly. With the collaboration of the right businesses we are now able to do that.

I am grateful for the effort and dedication of all people and organisations who make SolarPay possible. And I look forward to getting one step closer to sustainability, where we live in harmony with nature and each other; and use existing market forces to achieve that.”

Find Out Whether You Can Benefit From Solar Hot Water.

You can get an instant quote right now. There are 23 simple questions that lets our online calculator work out the best solution for your situation. That way you know exactly whether you can benefit from solar hot water.

Start with 1. Find System.

Update on the 8 September: ecoland has closed down. What started as a inspirational venture could not sustain its momentum.

The first I heard from ecoland was from Kali Nielson and Jo Turner. At the time they were still in concept stage and developing a business model that was going to bring sustainability into the building industry on the Sunshine Coast.

Now they have been open for 4 weeks and are attracting many interested people into their shop at Peregian Beach.

Ecological Building Design

Ecoland’s main focus is a new way to build. Whether you are thinking of retrofitting your house or building one from scratch, ecoland can support you.

Just taking in the atmosphere in their shop makes you realise that they are about quality. Award winning architect Valentina Balbis has has recently joined the team, adding to the local building skills and contacts of Sepp Hock who has 27 years experience in the building industry.

Steve Zahra, an electrician focuses on providing photovoltaic systems. Jo Turner runs workshops for home-owners and Kali Nielson consults with businesses how to be more sustainable.

Traditional Opening Ceremony

At their opening a huge crowed gathered to watch Sam, an Aboriginal healer, perform the opening ceremony for the shop. You can feel the dedication and passion of everyone at ecoland that goes beyond just building. Connecting with people and finding the very best solution is an essential ingredient that makes them stand out.

Is a solar hot water quote the answer to global warming? Not for everyone, but for many.

“Once you knew what did you do?”

I cannot remember who that quote is from, but it stuck in my mind ever since I heard it.

Man-made global warming is a reality very few people deny today. We all know it is happening, we all know something needs to be done about it. But most people are stuck as to what can be done on a personal level.

Sure, I can go and plant trees as a volunteer. I can turn off lights. I can walk sometimes instead of driving. But reality is that we value convenience and an immediate personal benefit above most other things. I am certainly being driven by these two motivations.

Convenience

Life is very full. So every change in behaviour needs to be convenient in two ways:

1. Making the change
2. Living with the change

Immediate Personal Benefit

With a choice of doing something for the greater good or getting an immediate personal benefit, most people would go for the latter. It is normal and human and ensures our survival as individuals.

So we need solutions that combine:

1. Immediate personal benefit
2. Positive impact on the planet

Solutions to Climate Change

Most proposed solutions do not meet any of these requirements. Many are actually contrary to them.

My goal was to come up with a solution that covered all four areas and I found it in Solar Hot Water

Living with the change is very easy. You do not really notice it (apart from the guilt-free hot showers).

Making the change requires a bit of effort. Finding the right system, finding the right installer, finding the money, understanding the rebates takes a bit of time. Hence the Solarpay service that does all that for you.

Reduced energy bills (savings of $300 to $700 each year) are an immediate personal benefit. And that will continue for the life of the system (20 years or more) and rising with increased electricity prices.

The positive impact on the planet is reduced greenhouse gas emissions (25% of each household or 3,000kg per year).

Once You Knew What Did You Do?

The problem: climate change and global warming

The best solution I could find: solar hot water

The question: What will you do?

1. Take action and get a solar hot water quote now.
   
2. If there are unsurmountable obstacles for you, leave a comment so we can find ways to overcome them.
3. If you have a better solution, please share it so we can all benefit from it (directly and indirectly).

The Bligh government wants to fast-track the development of Greenfield sites on the Sunshine Coast – but with no commitment to additional infrastructure. Can our roads, public transport, health and community services cope with 75,000 more people? Are you concerned about protecting our environment and lifestyle?

As the Sunshine Coast Environment Council rightly points out: “This is not just about infrastructure. It is more about sustainable infrastructure such as integrated public transport systems, decentralised water, renewable energy and sustainable building design and construction and community services. Simply doing business as usual and building more roads is not the answer!”

Community Forum on Thursday 31 July 2008 – 7:00 pm

Lake Kawana Community Centre, Sportsman’s Parade, Bokarina, 4575

Hosted by: Steve Dickson MP, Member for Kawana

Guest speakers include:
Lawrence Springborg MP, Leader of the Opposition
Fiona Simpson MP, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure & Planning
Mayor Bob Abbot, Sunshine Coast Regional Council

A panel of community representatives will address questions to the speakers – you are invited to submit questions for inclusion in this discussion. (There will also be the opportunity for questions from the floor – time permitting.)

Questions should be emailed to kawana@parliament.qld.gov.au no later than this Friday 25 July, 2008. Please include your name, organisation name (if applicable) and contact number.

Telephone enquiries: 5478 1189 (9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Mon-Fri)

We are proud to announce that NAB has partnered with SolarPay to support our clients.

55% of the people we talked to at World Environment Day shared that the upfront cost was the biggest hindrance to getting solar hot water. Therefore our goal was clear: a way to get a solar hot water heater with no upfront cost and repayments that are in line with the electricity savings.

So if you are in the same position as more than half the population, but still want to take advantage of the long-term savings of solar hot water, a credit card or loan may help you better manage your cash flow.

For Credit Cards, an option is the NAB’s Low Rate Visa Card

• Purchase rate of 12.70% p.a. ¹
• Cash Advance rate of 19.99% p.a. ¹
• Annual card fee of $49 ²

To find out more, go to the NAB website.

You may also wish to apply online and receive a response within 60 seconds. Subject to approval, you can even make the solar hot water system your first purchase!

Other Important Information

A credit card offers you great flexibility and convenience. But it’s important to remember, like any debt, you will have to repay it. If you are unsure as to whether you will be able to manage repayments for a new credit card, then you should not consider taking up a NAB credit card at this point in time.

If you have an existing line of credit or can redraw cheaply that might be an even cheaper option for you.

The Legal Small Print

Approval is subject to NAB’s credit assessment criteria. Terms and conditions are available on application. Fees and charges apply.

1. Excludes cash advances including bills paid over the counter at a bank, financial institution or post office and for the purchase of travellers cheques. The NAB Low Rate Visa Card (Purchase) Indicator Rate is 12.70%p.a. (as at 22 July 2008) and is subject to change. The NAB Low Rate Visa Card (Cash Advance) Indicator Rate is currently 19.99%p.a. (as at 23 September 2008) and is subject to change. See terms and conditions for details of the application of these rates.
2. The annual card fee (as at 23 September 2008) is $49.00 for a NAB Low Rate Visa Card and is subject to change.