are improving the lives of people with a disability, and they are also taking huge steps to improve our environment. They have been undertaking an energy and water efficiency audit which has led to many small changes being made that will have a huge impact on their bottom line, reducing energy and water bills and of course lowering emissions.
In the last few months, Macleay Options have purchased four fully electric vehicles that are used daily to transport clients and staff across Kempsey Shire, which reduces their vehicle emissions significantly. They have also installed four car chargers across two sites, some using single-phase power and some using 3-phase, which has been a simple installation process.
Their main site in Kempsey is about to be upgraded with water tanks and just over 50kW of solar panels which will mean these cars will be charged during the day using renewable energy – and no fuel bills! With the low upfront purchase price and no ongoing fuel costs, the total cost of ownership of these vehicles is far lower than a traditional fossil fuel powered vehicle.
At their independent living facility, there is already a solar panel system installed, and an electric car charger so when cars are parked there, they can be charged using the energy from the sun. This facility was designed and built with sustainability in mind and has on-site water tanks, excellent roof and floor insulation, cool outdoor areas, and smart design incorporating natural climate optimisation. Across all facilities, they are removing the filtered plastic water bottle systems, installing lighting and air conditioning timers and removing paper towels from bathrooms and replacing with air drying options – small decisions that have a large impact, all reducing waste and improving energy efficiency.
Local businesses, big or small can undertake similar audits and actions to help save money and lower emissions – if you need advice on where to start, please let us know.
