Keen for self-sufficiency

Sunday Tasmanian
Sunday 20/9/2009 Page: 15

An entire municipality aims to be the first in Tasmania free of reliance on the outside world, writes Gill Vowles

THE Kentish municipality is aiming to be the first in Tasmania wholly solar energyed. And that is only the first step in an ambitious plan to achieve self-sufficiency. In February, a group of committed citizens formed KEENER - Kentish Energy Efficiency Network Embracing Renewables - with the goal of turning the municipality's three towns of Sheffield, Wilmot and Railton into Tasmania's first "transition" towns.

The Transition Movement, founded in Ireland in 2005, equips communities to face climate change and peak oil by reducing energy use and increasing self-reliance. KEENER public officer Shayn Harkness said the group decided to start with solar energy because of the Federal Government rebate. He said 200 households had signed up for a solar energy bulk buy through KEENER. "About half of them are from Kentish and the rest along the North-West Coast," he said.

Installation of the solar systems, which produce about a quarter of each household's requirements, starts this month. "With each system costing a minimum of $10,000 this first stage will be a $2 million project," he said. "That is a fantastic result but it is still our goal to have all residences, businesses and community buildings in Sheffield, Railton and Wilmot solar energyed within the next five years." KEENER was also planning to increase local food production and provide sustainable public transport and housing. "Our goal is to help our community become less dependent on outside resources," Mr Harkness said. "How much we can achieve ultimately depends on our community so our biggest challenge is getting people to realise we need to prepare for the looming fuel shortages."

A demonstration home in an eco-village being developed by KEENER's Lesley and Doug Begg will boost awareness. They plan to build 30 sustainable houses on their 3 ha property. The first house, featuring double-glazed windows, solar heated water, heat-conducted flooring and energy efficient lighting, is almost complete. Mr Harkness said the Kentish municipality was ideally suited to self-sufficiency. "Because we have such rich resources in this district, we have a better opportunity to become sustainable than high density communities," he said. "If Kentish can't do it, it doesn't bode well for the rest of the world."