Getting off Gas & Renewable Energy : Heat Pump Hot Water, Induction Cooktop, Solar and Battery
Commonground is an intentional community and not-for-profit social enterprise that has been supporting social justice, environmental, disadvantaged and community groups since 1984.
Commonground provides accommodation and conference facilities for social and environmental change organisations and is set on regenerated bushland, just over one hour’s drive north of Melbourne and 15 minutes from Seymour by car.
They aim to support social change and prioritise groups who are working directly for environmental or community causes and/or working with people living with disadvantage. They host numerous charity programs each year including Satellite Foundation, Act for Peace, Yes to Renewables, Cultivating Community, Victorian Forest Alliance, and Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia among others.
In November 2024 Commonground committed to an ambitious energy policy including investing in renewable energy infrastructure to achieve a net positive contribution to the sustainability of the grid by 2030 which has led to this project.
This project will be completed in two parts.
- Heat Pump Hot Water, Induction Cooktop and Switchboard Upgrades – this will be funded immediately by an existing fund we have specifically for a Getting off Gas Project.
- Solar and Battery – we are currently fundraising for this portion of the project.
Website: https://www.common-ground.org.au/
We are currently fundraising for this project.
Loan details
Loan target: $41,186
Loan repayments: $1471/quarter
Status: Fundraising
Installation date: TBC
Work Details
13.2kW Solar System with 16kWh Battery Storage
30 × 440W Jinko Solar Tiger Neo Satin solar panels
1 × Sungrow SH10RS Inverter
1 × Sungrow SBR160 · 16kWh Battery
Reclaim 400L CO2 Heat Pump Hot Water system
Bosch 60cm freestanding induction cooktop
Switchboard upgrades
Expected savings: $4,275 per year in electricity and gas costs
Reduction in carbon emissions/yr: Approx 17 tonnes/year
“Working with CORENA means that we will be able to eliminate the reliance on LPG for hot water and cooking across our residential venue. We will also triple our solar energy production of the venue and install our very first battery significantly reducing our reliance on grid sourced electricity. Commonground is excited that we are able to take such a significant step toward reliance on renewable energy so quickly. This would not have been possible without the amazing work of CORENA! “
Mani Heck, Hospitality Manager, Commonground Training Centre
