Meet the volunteers powering a campaign to become the world’s first fully electrified community. And if you haven’t filled in their survey, now is the time.
Energy expert Saul Griffith and his team at Rewiring Australia had the brainwave (supported by extensive research!) that they wanted to electrify a whole community. Yet it was a group of local volunteers who embraced the concept and have been working hard to advocate for a pilot electrification project to take place here in our backyard. If it goes ahead, it would be a world-first program and would not only be of huge benefit to our community and for individual households, it would provide a blueprint for other communities to follow suit across Australia and put us on the path to a net zero emissions future.
The core team got together at a pub three months ago to see what we could do about the climate crisis in our own community. Since then we’ve been meeting fortnightly – with children in tow – after we clock off from our day jobs to try to progress the campaign. Once we launched Electrify 2515, about 20 wonderful community members also put their hand up to help get the word out and contribute. If you’ve seen a flyer, poster or t-shirt, it is thanks to them!
So who are the volunteers behind the Electrify 2515 team?
Trent Jansen
“I live in Thirroul on beautiful Dharawal Country on the edge of the escarpment with my partner Amy and our daughter Arie, who is my main motivation for working on climate change projects. I’m so excited to be working with Electrify 2515 and am truly heartened by the overwhelmingly positive response from our community. This is a project that can make practical, lasting changes to carbon emissions through a simple and manageable transition that we can all understand and participate in. I am electrified to see our community be one of the first to take on this transition, to break new ground for the global movement that must follow.”
Jessie Mawson and Francis Vierboom
The couple live in Thirroul with their two kids, Bill and Eddie. Jessie works for a global refugee charity and Francis founded a software company that helps construction projects, but he’s currently taking time off to be a stay-at-home dad.
“We love that we’ve got the chance to work on the Electrify project. We think we owe it to our kids to minimise climate change as much as we can. We also want our kids to graduate school into a strong economy with interesting local jobs, and that means getting on with the energy transition now. We’re up in the escarpment with lots of trees so we can’t always make much use of our solar panels, which is why a home battery and/or EV would really maximise our solar production.”
Jeremy Park
“Having worked for political change on various local, state and federal election campaigns it’s been a great relief to finally see some leadership around climate action and integrity. But for me it’s Saul Griffith’s non-political blueprint for tackling the climate crisis from a household level that’s been most inspiring. I love the pragmatic and financial argument that everyone in our community can benefit from. My family is well on the way to electrifying our lives and see the upfront cost as a smart down payment for our future.”
Laura Scalafiotti
“I felt truly electrified when I read the Big Switch. All the doom and gloom from various IPCC reports, and years of inaction turned into optimism and excitement for a project that feels tangible, and well within our reach. I love that it could also pave the way for sustainable, local jobs. Bonus points for forming deeper ties with our brilliant community!”
Ali and Tim Pavy-Lovitt
Living in Wombarra for almost four years, Tim, Ali and Emma are continually blown away by the natural beauty of the South Coast.
“When asked if we’d want to lend a hand to a project that could lead the way for sustainable energy and preserve this beauty, it was an easy answer. Our daughter Emma has become increasingly interested in birds and animals in her everyday life, a daily reminder of our responsibility to take action on climate change. And having chosen a rental in which we were mistakenly told the solar was working, we know too well the difference that harnessing the sun alone can have!”
Tom Maclachlan
“As a filmmaker I’ve been making videos for climate action for 12 years and so often they were about large-scale solutions, demanding action from politicians. The beauty of this Electrify campaign is that it’s local, small-scale, and totally within our grasp. We’re not waiting for epic legislation change. We’re not turning the rusted screws of fossil fuel companies, trying to get them to see the light. We’re just doing it ourselves.”
Davin Turner
“As a local architect I am passionate about using design to create sustainable homes that minimise environmental impact. I love how this project helps all homes become more energy efficient and we think about our interconnection with our neighbours as well. Saul’s mantra about ‘electrifying our castles to combat climate change’ is something that really resonated with me on a personal and professional level.”
Kristen McDonald
“Working in the non-profit sector I’m really passionate about engaging people to try to create change. What I’ve loved about the Electrified community concept is there are so many benefits which can resonate with people that it just makes sense. Cleaner air, better health, reduced power bills, community connection and infrastructure, local employment, and, yes, positively working towards addressing the gigantic climate crisis!”
What’s next?
Of the 4500 homes in 2515, more than 1000 have registered their interest in being part of this electrification pilot, but the more people who complete our survey, the greater chance the pilot project will have to go ahead here. To register your interest in being part of the pilot, visit electrify2515.org
We’re also holding a community forum on October 9.
Unfortunately, it’s at capacity but we will be recording it, so if you’d like a recording, please email us at: electrify2515@gmail.com