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© 2025 The Illawarra Flame
 

Kristen McDonald

Kristen McDonald lives in Thirroul under a 100-foot fig tree that she is continually inspired by. A mother to three-year-old twin girls, a one-year-old boy, a dog named Smokey Bear Monkey Pie, three chickens and some adopted guinea pigs. She is passionate about environmental protection, social justice, equality and education, as well as the bigger issues, such as ice-cream supply and wombat memes.

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Energy Transition

Tradies: Heroes of our Homes

When we think of professionals acting on climate change, we may think of scientists or policymakers. But it is our local plumbers, electricians and air conditioner installers who are some of the true heroes of the energy transition. They’re the...

Kristen McDonald
September 2024
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News

Electrify 2515 update: What’s happening in the world of solar?

Electrify 2515 coordinator Kristen McDonald shares an update. Australians are fortunate to have access to the world’s cheapest delivered energy – our rooftop solar. From the local to the national level, developments are continually taking place...

Kristen McDonald
June 2024
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Energy Transition

Electrify 2515 shares EV and E-bike offers

Thank you to everyone who came out to November 12’s EV & E-bike Open Day. About 450 people turned up, which was so encouraging. As announced at the event, we have secured special offers for all Illawarra locals. Here’s a brief list: • Win...

Kristen McDonald
December 2023
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News

Save the date for EV Open Day at Club Thirroul

When we recently surveyed you, our community, 44% said you are ‘definitely’ or ‘probably’ going to buy an electric vehicle (EV) in the next two years, and 31% are planning to purchase or lease an e-bike. However, there was still a lot of uncertainty about affordable options, car ranges, charging facilities and model features. 

Kristen McDonald
October 2023
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News

Electrify 2515 share their electric transport dreams

When we think about electrifying and reducing our household’s emissions, our car might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, by far, vehicles are the biggest energy users in our homes (69% of our energy use), costing us an average of...

Kristen McDonald
August 2023
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News

Meet a humble hero: Your hot water system

Your hot water system may not be an exciting conversation starter but it is one of the easiest ways to reduce your emissions and energy costs at home and will play an important role in our electric future. In NSW our hot water systems are typically...

Kristen McDonald
July 2023
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News

Pioneering Australia’s Electric Future: Electrify 2515 shares Solar Rollout and funding update

Some of you may have been following the Electrify 2515 journey from the start and others may be less familiar with our work so we wanted to give a quick snapshot of where we have been and what you can do right now. How did we get here? In 2022 Dr...

Kristen McDonald
June 2023
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News

Electrify 2515 launches Solar Rollout to full house in Thirroul

Thank you to all the wonderful community members who joined our Community Solar Rollout launch on Saturday, May 13 at Thirroul Community Centre. We had a packed house with many on the waiting list and plenty of great conversations were had. The...

Kristen McDonald
May 2023
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News

Solar rollout for everyone

On Saturday, 13 May, Electrify 2515 is launching its Community Solar Rollout and we’d love you to join our free event. Our community group aims to create a simple trusted process for households and businesses to install new or expanded solar...

Kristen McDonald
April 2023
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News

Let’s be energy smart

Many of us receive our quarterly energy bills and, after we’ve picked ourselves up off the floor, take a stab in the dark to work out which appliances or behaviours are causing the high energy usage and what we could do to lower our bills. There...

Kristen McDonald
April 2023
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Clubs & Community

Join solar bulk buy

Did you catch ABC’s Australian Story? The first episode of 2023 featured Austinmer’s Dr Saul Griffith, as well as Electrify 2515 volunteers! Missed it? Watch on ABC iview. This year we will be applying for the NSW Government’s electrification...

Kristen McDonald
March 2023
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News

See Austi’s Dr Saul Griffith on ‘Australian Story’

Must-see viewing! The first episode for 2023 will feature Illawarra local Dr Saul Griffith on ABC’s Australian Story. You will also catch a glimpse of your neighbours and see some of behind the scenes work we’re doing here in 2515. Share this with...

Kristen McDonald
February 2023
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Clubs & Community

Jump on the solar train

While Electrify 2515 and Rewiring Australia are heads down applying for funding for a community-wide electrification pilot (hopefully we’ll receive an update in the next month or so), there are some things we can get started with now. First up is...

Kristen McDonald
February 2023
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News

Exciting year for Electrify 2515

’Tis the season for New Year’s Resolutions, so we hope you will join us in adding ‘electrify my home, car or business’ to your list. This is the year we are hoping to begin rolling out a community-wide electrification project and we’re...

Kristen McDonald
January 2023
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