Last call for volunteers to save on power bills

But the NSW Energymark program – a CSIRO initiative supported by the Department of Climate Change and Water NSW – is looking for more householders to help others save energy costs by changing the way they shop, live and travel.

“The results from our earlier Newcastle trial speak for themselves,” CSIRO lead researcher Dr Paul Graham said.

“In that trial, just by making a few simple changes to their everyday lives, people cut power use by up to 37 per cent and their carbon footprint was reduced by 27 per cent.”

A broad range of people have expressed an interest in the program – from students to retirees.

The program is simple. One person signs up as a volunteer Energymark convenor. They then enlist nine friends or family members to meet roughly once a month to discuss climate change, energy, water and more. The program is completed in just eight meetings.

CSIRO supports the groups by providing materials that guide the sessions and CSIRO staff are on hand to help out with questions.

To date, metropolitan Sydney has produced the largest number of Energymark convenors, with several volunteers also enlisting in the Richmond and Tweed Council areas in the State’s north, further south in the Hunter Valley and also in south-eastern NSW.

Their wider communities will soon learn of Energymark’s proven financial and environmental benefits.

There are still opportunities for more people to sign up before recruitment closes at the end of the month.

“They don’t need to know a lot about energy or climate change to participate – they just need enthusiasm and some organisational skills,” Dr Graham said.

“We are especially keen to recruit more convenors in regional and rural NSW, as well as people living in the city.

To volunteer or for more information: visit; www.energymark.com.au, email; energymark@csiro.au, or call 1300 119 003.