This year the Energy Zone is charged with interactive presentations from Sarah Albury on can-do home electrification, Ben Ewald (GP) about the health effects of heating and cooking with gas, Michael Day from Australian Electric Vehicle Association on what it’s like to own an EV, and David McEwan from Parents for Climate on the power of your network.
All day activities include electric vehicles on display, home electrification display, HCB solar and battery display, Bust Your Bills consultations with Scorecard (bookings essential) and the University of Newcastle interactive challenge.
Bust Your Bills consultation
Come along to a Bust Your Bills session to learn how you can reduce your energy consumption, have a healthier and more comfortable home, and learn about rebates and subsidies that might be available to help you make efficient changes to your home.
This 15-minute session is designed to give you a brief overview of how you can reduce your energy bill cost, and to help identify the best place to start making changes.
Our energy expert is an accredited Residential Scorecard Assessor and will be on hand to answer all your questions, from how to understand your energy bill, to what size solar system you might need. Bring along your energy bills and your energy questions to make the most of the session.
Sessions are free but bookings are essential.
Book your Bust Your Bills session here.
10am
What it's like to own an EV with Michael Day, Australian Electric Vehicle Association
An enjoyable introduction to owning, driving and charging an EV. Learn about the similarities and differences between EVs and fuel burning cars, charging your EV for everyday driving, charging your EV for long distance travel, the EV driving experience, what's better and different (noise, acceleration, regenerative breaking, charging apps, charging etiquette). All questions welcome!
11am
The health effects of heating and cooking with gas in your home with Ben Ewald, GP
Dr Ben Ewald is a GP and teaches public health and epidemiology topics at the University of Newcastle. In this interactive session, Ben will summarise the latest medical research on the effects of cooking and heating with gas on your health (particularly for the young and elderly) and then open the floor to questions.
12pm
Household energy efficiency and electrification with Sarah Aubrey
Sarah Aubrey is an EV and electrification advocate and author of the popular @electrify_this Instagram page. After reading Dr Saul Griffith’s The Big Switch, she set about transforming her 115-year-old house to a fully electrified, 10-star efficiency rated home. Learn how to transform your home - old, new or rented - for an efficient, comfortable, cheaper electric future.
1pm