United Energy and Multinet Gas was pleased to recently present the winners of the ResourceSmart Energy School of the Year at Sustainability Victoria’s ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2012. The program is Victoria’s largest sustainability awards program for primary and secondary schools, with a number of schools within our network area participating in this year’s campaign.  The Awards recognise schools and students who have effectively managed their energy consumption and shown leadership by raising awareness about energy conservation in their communities.

United Energy was pleased to announce the following winners:

• The ResourceSmart Energy Primary School of the Year is St Macartan’s Primary School in Mornington. The school reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 101 per cent, down to 63 tonnes per annum, and the school’s natural gas consumption was reduced by 55 per cent. The Student Energy Sustainability Team coordinated a ‘No Power Hour’ which saved 15kw in a single hour. The Team focused on energy efficiency by placing energy awareness posters around the school, conducting temperature data logging three times a day and regularly reporting updates at assemblies and in newsletters. Students also conducted tours of the Solar Visual Display at the school’s entrance to demonstrate green energy generation.
• The ResourceSmart Energy Secondary School of the Year is St Joseph's College in Echuca. The College reduced overall electricity consumption by 11 per cent, electricity related greenhouse gas emissions (scope 2) by 13 per cent and natural gas consumption by 26 per cent. The school’s Student Action Team and staff conducted de-lamping operations throughout the campus and removed 70 fluorescent globes. Blinds were installed in classrooms, ‘switch off’ signs were placed at all light switches and School Heater Guidelines were developed. The school installed thermometers and thermostats in each classroom to monitor use of heaters and air conditioners. St Joseph’s Sustainability Coordinator completed a CERT III in carbon management, guiding the school in its energy offset objectives and ran energy education sessions for teachers.

“It was a great event to be a part of. There was so much ‘energy’ in room with a lot of children passionate about sustainability and conservation, and we hope to build a future relationship with winner St Macartan’s Primary School” said Lisa Drought, General Manager Corporate Affairs and Government Relations.

The ResourceSmart Schools Awards 2012 received a total of 159 entries. Our sponsorship will help winners and finalists further extend their sustainability initiatives.

Multinet Gas, together with the Victorian Government is pleased to report that natural gas is now available to more than 10,000 properties across five towns.

By connecting to natural gas, residents and businesses will have the opportunity to select from a wider range of appliances such as heaters, hot water units and cooktops. Natural gas is safe, convenient, economical and environmentally friendly. To encourage early connection to natural gas, rebates of up to $800* per property are available.

The following rebates are offered:

• A maximum rebate of $500 towards the costs incurred to convert an appliance to natural gas
• A maximum rebate of $300 towards the costs incurred in the upgrade or purchase of a natural gas appliance.

These rebates are only available for a limited time and are subject to conditions set out in our ‘Early Connection Incentive Brochure’ (available on request). The rebates may only be claimed following connection.

To find out more about the early connection incentives or the roll out of natural gas in South Gippsland, please call Multinet Gas on 1300 131 689 during business hours.

*All connections and rebates are subject to conditions including availability.