The case for energy loans: read our latest explainer
St Heliers Presbyterian Church and Community Centre has seen the light! Jody Bews-Hair, one of the directors of the charitable company operating Community Centre facilities and project co-initiator, says installing 68 solar panels and a battery was driven by three key motivations: building community resilience, environmental sustainability, and managing rising energy costs.
The system is estimated to save over $500 per month; carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by almost five tonnes; and the church's new battery system means it can operate as a Community Emergency Hub during power outages.
Over 100 congregation members came together to launch the installation – many wearing yellow in recognition of the solar milestone – alongside community leaders, Ōrākei Local Board representatives, Rewiring Aotearoa, Eco Church New Zealand, and Lightforce Solar representatives. Rev Dr. Jordan Redding led the ceremony and there was also a cake cutting featuring a church-shaped cake complete with chocolate solar panels.
"We are exceptionally grateful to our parishioners who generously donated close to $60,000 to make this vision a reality," says Bews-Hair. "Combined with the Ōrākei Local Board's $8,000 grant, this community support shows what's possible when we work together. We hope this inspires other churches and community centres to explore solar solutions. The research by Rewiring Aotearoa shows incredible potential for household power savings from solar across New Zealand. If we can lead by example, perhaps more of our community will consider solar for their own homes and businesses."
Rewiring Aotearoa is in favour of universal Road User Charges as we believe it will address an artificial market distortion for vehicles that is not in New Zealand’s economic, fuel security, or resilience interests. Here's what we told the Select Committee.
Read moreDownloadThe story of Uruguay's renewable push and why it's relevant here; EVs reach a tipping point in the EU, but they're growing in developing nations, too; Tauranga Crossing and Endless Energy go vertical with a new solar install; new research shows panels keep on trucking far past their warranty periods; and if you need a hand getting out on the waves, how about getting your own electric towing machine.
Read moreDownloadOur Political Power series aims to show that going electric is good for everyone, no matter where you sit on the political sprectrum. Whether you're looking to lower costs, reduce emissions or increase resilience, it increasingly makes sense at an individual, community and country level and ACT's Todd Stephenson, who bought an electric Jeep around one year ago and built his new home in Queenstown to run on electrons, is a good example of that.
Read moreDownload