Projects

CORENA’s primary activity is organising and funding practical projects that reduce carbon emissions almost immediately…enabled by the people all over Australia who chip in to fund each new project.

We provide interest-free loans to entities (generally non-profit organisations) that provide some sort of community benefit and that are unable to reduce their carbon footprint without financial help. They repay the loans just out of their savings on power/fuel bills, with their quarterly loan repayments then being used almost immediately to help fund subsequent projects via our revolving fund.

The loans cover the cost of Quick Win climate projects – solar PV, energy efficiency, getting off gas, electric vehicles, or a package of these. We also provide technical advice to ensure projects are of a high quality. We aim for projects that deliver cost-effective reductions in emissions, projects that ‘pay for themselves’ in a reasonable time, and projects that nudge changes in the right direction.

When you donate to a CORENA project your money provides tangible climate benefits almost immediately, and keeps on working far into the future via our powerful revolving fund.

See the projects completed so far: Completed projects

Apply for a project loan: Project applications

Help us do all the above: Volunteer

Who can apply for Quick Win climate project funding?

Non-profit organisations and other entities that provide community benefits can apply for an interest-free loan to pay for projects that will reduce their carbon footprint if they are unable to do so without financial help.

What happens before a Quick Win climate project is funded?

The first step is to assess prior energy/vehicle use and identify the most cost-effective carbon reduction measures for your organisation. CORENA and the organisation will discuss options and agree on what work should be done. You will obtain quotes from accredited suppliers/installers and our technical advisors will check they are of appropriate quality, size, etc. CORENA will draw up a loan agreement stating the amount of the interest-free loan, the work the money will be spent on, and the loan repayment schedule.

After the above, there will be a delay while we wait for enough donations to come in to fund your project. You will need to send us a ‘before’ photo so we can display details of your project on the CORENA website, and after the project is completed an ‘after’ photo to show what has been accomplished.

Mentoring

If your group wishes to set up a similar revolving fund for community climate projects, we are happy to help with tips like we did for COREM in Mullumbimby some years ago. Please contact us!