Sustainable Upper Ovens

28/07/2026

A recent Textile Waste Tour organised by HalveWaste in Wodonga was a real eye-opener for one of our members. These eight cages of textiles were collected from the Wodonga Salvos store in just one day!

So much clothing and other textiles end up in landfill every year. But there are simple ways we can all help reduce this waste:
🧵 Buy fewer new clothes
♻️ Choose pre-loved clothing from op shops
🪡 Mend and repair clothing where possible
👕 Get the longest life you can from your textiles

The good news is that Wodonga Waste Management and other local councils are working with Recycle Care to collect, sort and process textile waste within Australia, helping to recover valuable materials and keep more textiles out of landfill.

Learn more: https://recyclecareaustralia.com.au/

29/06/2026

There’s an Ovens Valley resident that’s leading the way. Vehicle to load/home technology already exists. A full car battery will power an average home for several days and doesn’t even require a brand new EV.

Could your electric car do more than just keep the lights on in an emergency? Australians are upgrading...

28/06/2026

A great story highlighting the power of community energy! 🌞

Congratulations to Totally Renewable Yackandandah on their SBS News feature. Their experience shows how communities can work together to reduce energy bills, increase energy resilience and accelerate the transition to clean energy. Definitely worth checking out!

The graphic below also highlights the potential savings households can achieve by electrifying their homes over time.

The small tourist town of Yackandandah, or Yack, in Victoria's north-east has taken the renewable energy transition into its own hands.

About 68 per cent of rooftops in the town now have solar installed, with residents reducing their power bills by 62 per cent on average, according to Totally Renewable Yackandandah co-founder Matt Charles-Jones.

He says the upfront cost of installing a solar and battery system, which costs around $15,000 after the federal government's battery rebate, remains a significant barrier for some households.

Across Australia, households living in fully electrified homes spend, on average, $4,100 less each year than those still running on gas appliances and a petrol vehicle, according to a 2025 Rewiring Australia report.

Learn about Yack’s model, and if it could work elsewhere: https://bit.ly/4vrlY1u

09/06/2026

Come and say hi to us this Saturday at the Porepunkah People’s Market ! 👋

We'll be showcasing a range of electric vehicles and sharing information about the benefits of going electric. It's a great chance to chat with local EV owners, ask questions and see the cars up close. ⚡🚗

We hope to see you there!

This Saturday 13th June, we welcome Sustainable Upper Ovens to the Punkah People's Market with their electric car 'Show and Shine'. 🚗🚗🚗
You will be able to chat directly to EV owners about their cars and discover the advantages of going electric. ⚡️Everyone is welcome!
We also have arts and crafts, music, organic coffee from 3 Chords Kiosk and delicious food by Wild & Whole Kitchen 🥗☕️🍜
At The Punkah Hall in Martley St from 9am to 1pm. 😃

30/05/2026

Found a draught in your home? Don’t just turn the heater up – seal it out!

Here are some simple tips to help tackle common draughts. Most cost under $20, take less than 30 minutes, and don’t need tools or special skills. For extra guidance, check with your local hardware shop.

WINDOWS
Foam weather tape seals gaps between the window and frame. For something easily removable - rope caulk presses into small gaps and peels away when needed.

DOORS
The gap under external doors is often a major source of heat loss. A self-adhesive or screw-on door seal strip takes 10 minutes to fit. Door snakes or rolled-up towels are also cheap, effective alternatives.

FLOORS & SKIRTING BOARDS
Gap filler or caulk can help seal joins between floors and walls. If you’re renting, check with your landlord first - temporary options like door snakes or foam strips can still make a big difference.

VENTS & CHIMNEYS
Chimney balloons or draught stoppers can block heat loss from unused fireplaces. For vents, options include self-closing dampers, removable covers or magnetic blockers. 💡 Never block vents for gas heaters or combustion appliances - check with a licensed gas fitter first.

🎥 See these tips in action - short video from Sustainability Victoria:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA8fjlYIgf8

👉 Want a copy of our DIY draught-proofing checklist? Comment below or send us a message.

26/05/2026

Does your home feel cold, even when the heater’s on? Before you turn it up, check for draughts.

Warm air can escape through small gaps you might not even notice - under doors, around window frames and along skirting boards. It’s one of the most common reasons homes feel cold in winter, even when the heating is running.

Quick draught check - try one of these:

🖐️ Run a damp hand around window and door edges
🕯️ Use a candle and watch for flickering flames
👀 Look for daylight coming through gaps, or for curtains moving when windows are shut
👂 Listen for whistling or rattling

If you notice airflow, you’ve found a draught.

Pick one room and do a quick test. Make a note of any spots where air is coming through.

Next post we’ll share some easy, cost-effective ways to seal the gaps and warm your home.

22/05/2026

Great opportunity to learn more about electric vehicles at Electrify Wangaratta's free event next weekend! 🚗

Learn about a key step to electrifying your home - upgrading to efficient electric water heating with a heat pump.

12/05/2026

Investing in renewable energy such as solar with batteries can result in more than just cost savings for homeowners - when done at a larger scale it can deliver energy resilience and additional income streams for communities, enabling investment back into that community.⚡

Victorian community-owned clean energy developer Indigo Power has launched a 482 kWh community battery with 100 kW inverter at the Cricket Albury Wodonga (CAW) indoor stadium, co-located with an existing 98 kW solar system. The rooftop solar supplies electricity to the stadium, but also Patagonia stores and offices across Australia, facilitated by a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Patagonia and Indigo Power’s energy-sharing software.

CAW has reinvested its savings into community development programs, including pathways for junior male and female cricketers across the region. A great example of how clean energy can benefit entire communities - not just individual households. 🌱

Read more:

Victorian community-owned clean energy developer Indigo Power has launched a 482 kWh community battery with 100 kW inverter at the Cricket Albury Wodonga Indoor Stadium, co-located with an existing 98 kW solar system.

30/04/2026

🌿 Real results from a local household - hot water heat pump

A Harrietville resident switched to a Reclaim CO2 heat pump hot water system in September 2024, and we thought their energy saving results were worth sharing.

📉What the chart shows:
The dark green bars are 2025 (after the heat pump was installed), the teal bars are 2024 (before). You can see energy use is lower across almost every month. Worth noting - the 2025 winter was actually colder than 2024, so the savings are even more impressive than they look.

💰The bottom line: $385 saved in autumn and $560 saved in winter compared to the same periods the year before - on variable usage charges alone.

💭What is a heat pump hot water system?
Instead of using electricity to directly heat water, it works like a reverse fridge - pulling heat from the surrounding air. This makes it 3-4x more efficient than a conventional electric system, and significantly more efficient than gas. Hot water typically accounts for 25-30% of a home's energy bill, so the savings add up quickly.

❓Thinking about switching?
Rebates are currently available in Victoria to help with upfront costs (visit https://www.solar.vic.gov.au/hot-water-rebate). A good local installer can advise on the right system for your household and whether it pairs well with any solar you might have.

Has anyone else made the switch? We'd love to hear your experience. 👇

27/04/2026

Did you know that you can recycle your soft plastics through the Alpine Shire Council Soft Plastics Recycling Program? Find out how to start below ♻️