The committee responsible for the federally funded Energy Efficiency in the 3rd Age (EE3A) project has met for the first time to organise its roll-out over the next few months.
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The $2.3 million energy efficiency project is part of the Green Jobs Illawarra strategy to help transform the region's manufacturing sector and create thousands of green jobs.
The committee is made up of representatives from business, industry and community sectors and is looking to identify volunteers from low-income homes to participate in the new initiative.
Green Jobs Illawarra project manager Katrina Skellern said calls had already been received from interested people.
Last week's meeting involved David Rogers and Janine De John of Warrigal Care, Duane Robinson and Bruce Thomson from the University of Wollongong, Tony Elshof and Kerrie Smith of WEA Illawarra, Steven Ellitt of Royal Freemasons' Benevolent Institution, and Alanna Woods from GWA Ltd.
"Other members are Professor Paul Cooper, Gordon Waitt and Ross Gordon from UOW, Drago Chikitch from IRT, and Simon Wallace-Pannell from the Office of Environment and Heritage," Mrs Skellern said.
The Southern Councils Group and Illawarra Forum are also involved in helping introduce the trial that will see the homes of 200 low-income, elderly volunteers retrofitted with energy-saving materials.
The trial is not expected to directly result in new jobs but will help activate the Illawarra's green economy.
It will do that by encouraging people to think about the local supply chain and low carbon solutions.
Opportunities created for Illawarra manufacturers and other businesses involved are expected to help build and strengthen their capability as energy efficiency and associated service specialists.
The EE3A project will work with Dux (GWA) Group, as the only Australian and local manufacturer of solar hot water heaters, to procure other retrofitting measures and services from local enterprises.
UOW researchers will study the homes for airtightness and other qualities and scrutinise the behaviour of occupants for further research.
This will be done under the watchful eye and direction of UOW Sustainable Buildings Research Centre's Prof Cooper.
Pictured: (Back row) David Rogers, Duane Robinson, Bruce Thomson and Tony Elshof, with (front row) Steven Ellitt, Katrina Skellern, Kerrie Smith, Janine De Jong and Alanna Woods in front of the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre at the Innovation Campus. Credit: GREG ELLIS
