What is Net Zero Energy?

A net-zero energy community generates as much energy as they use. This usually just includes the energy used in our buildings (electricity and gas) and doesn’t include transport – although as electric vehicles become commonplace it can easily extend to transport. This doesn’t mean disconnecting from the grid, as communities will export electricity to the grid when they generate more than they are using, and import when they need it.

There are some other energy and carbon related goals that communities sometimes plan for:

• Totally Renewable

• Net Zero Emissions

• Resilience

• Economic Development and community wealth building. This doesn’t always include strong climate and energy goals but it should!

Often these processes reach beyond your community group and involve local government and link to their strategies for community action.

Why is a plan helpful?

A plan provides a strategic framework for achieving your goals and measuring your progress. A plan maps out the requirements and opportunities to meet the emissions challenge. These are some of the steps:

• Engage with your community. This will determine what goals to aim for, and how you can get there.

• Work out your current electricity use, and how much you are already generating from renewable energy.

• Work out the potential to reduce that electricity use with energy efficiency.

• Work out the options for additional renewable resources.

• Set your goals and your timeframe.

• Work out the steps you need to reach your goals. These will include community engagement, setting organisational structures and governance, technology choices, finance and fundraising.

Often these processes reach beyond your community group and involve local government and link to their strategies for community action.

Uralla Z-Net involved the entire community to transition to energy self-sufficiency, based on renewable sources. It involved the following stages so the most affordable and sustainable actions were taken first:

1. Energy efficiency first: working with households to increase energy efficiency.

2. Raising awareness and encouraging sustainable practices on firewood which was used widely for heating.

3. Providing leadership and education for the community by working with schools and holding community events.

4. Working with local businesses.

5. Generate renewable energy nearby, and

6. Import or purchase renewable energy.

Benefits of planning for net zero energy

Planning for net zero energy provides a range of environmental, economic and social benefits:

• Reduces emissions to tackle climate change.
• Offers an opportunity to engage and consult with the community, and work towards equal access to energy solutions.
• Creates economic added value through vibrant local businesses based on renewable energy.
• Planning can create new leadership and education opportunities.

Some challenges of planning for net zero energy

Creating a net zero energy plan comes with a number of challenges:

• Technical: knowledge and expertise is needed to understand the best technology choices and their limitations
• Getting your energy data can be challenging
• Respecting cultural differences and ensuring that the entire community has a chance to participate and get involved
• Collaboration and partnerships with your network provider for infrastructure and grid integration measures
• Cost and Financing

When is creating a plan for net zero energy a good choice

Planning out your initiative always makes sense. However, planning for a net zero energy is an ambitious task that will involve your entire community. It can also assist your community to build resilience on the way towards a regenerative and sustainable future, help reduce the use of resources and create healthier communities.

Project Examples

Uralla Net Zero Energy Blueprint - the Blueprint provides a model for towns and villages to be able to assess and design their own net zero energy plan.

Uralla Z-Net - Uralla Shire plan to be a zero energy community.