Author: Sarah Morton
Contributor: Lisa Kendal
Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions (BREAZE) is a community organisation, established so the Ballarat community could show how individual and community-based actions can make a difference to climate change.
Set up in December 2006, BREAZE is an incorporated not-for-profit organisation. It is non-politically aligned, and advocates policies to address climate change. Over the past few years, it has become a trusted and authoritative voice on climate change issues for the Ballarat region.
BREAZE's mission
To protect and enhance the natural environment and increase environmental sustainability in the region, by promoting and developing renewable sources of energy, and significantly reducing the region's greenhouse gas emissions.
BREAZE aims to achieve this by:
- involving the community in energy sustainability programmes and helping members make changes in their ‘own back yard’
- running education and awareness programs
- conducting advocacy on energy-related public policy issues and working with the media
- supporting organisations with similar objectives
- establishing the BREAZE Renewable Energy Public Fund.
Organisational structure, volunteers and staff
While volunteers are the backbone of the organisation, BREAZE also has seven paid positions in administration, operations support and project management and coordination.
BREAZE's activities are organised into five goals under its strategic plan - Ballarat Beyond Carbon - that aims to achieve zero emissions by 2020. These goals include emissions reduction initiatives, community engagement, advocacy, culture and operations, and knowledge and reputation.
Action groups make wider involvement easier for members, by helping volunteers participate in areas they're passionate about - and at a level they're comfortable with. These groups are:
- Retro-fitting
- Renewable Energy
- Community Engagement
- Government Engagement
- Local Food.
Activities
BREAZE’s vision, volunteers, funding and staff help it undertake a wide range of activities, including:
“These schemes have certainly attracted members and established BREAZE's reputation as much more than a lobby group. BREAZE is actually doing something about sustainability.”
BREAZE’s first bulk-buy programs
Originally, BREAZE began offering deals for renewable energy products, such as solar hot water units and solar power systems, through bulk-buy programs. Over the course of these projects, BREAZE became more 'hands-on' in rebate administration, sourcing and contracting equipment and arranging installations. These bulk-buying schemes also helped generate income and attract new members, but most importantly, these projects helped members do something tangible to reduce emissions, and helped establish BREAZE’s reputation.
Retailing sustainability products
One aspect that sets BREAZE apart from most community environmental action groups, is that it's now a solar power and solar water systems retailer. BREAZE still orders equipment in bulk to take advantage of economies of scale. Since its initial bulk-buy, it has adopted more sophisticated ways to contract equipment supply and now goes to tender for equipment to ensure transparency and security of prices, and so it can offer a diversity of systems to meet different needs.
BREAZE has a panel of installers it can distribute work to, and undergoes a tendering process for system installations. It contracts batches of 10-15 installations at a time, which enables better customer service and easier completion schedules. It also helps minimise problems associated with storage insurance and constraints on storage space.
Bulk-buys
A recent survey of members revealed they still want traditional one-off bulk-buys for items BREAZE doesn’t continually sell. Recently, BREAZE has started retailing SolaMate, a solar space heating, cooling and ventilation system. BREAZE will continue to look at how it can deliver new energy efficient appliances, such as fridges.
Education
BREAZE runs and hosts events, courses and forums, such as the Ballarat Regional Forum on Climate Change, a Permaculture Design Course and bi-monthly community forums tailored around learning practical sustainability. BREAZE has an ongoing media campaign in partnership with the Ballarat Courier and the University of Ballarat - to raise awareness of environmental sustainability issues. Its website also provides many useful resources, including a news service and events calendar.
BREAZE is the auspice agency for the EcoLiving Centre in Ballarat, that will provide learning resources to help community members access information about sustainable living.
Solar in schools
BREAZE has helped several schools apply for Federal Government grants. Ten schools have received approval so far, with a further 10-20 applications pending (as of July 2010). BREAZE offers an extended suite of products and services for schools, including SolaMate water tanks and blinds, a strong educational component for students, professional development for school staff, and policy advice.
Community campaigns and advocacy
BREAZE is involved in campaigns such as Replace Hazelwood, the recently launched 100% renewable energy campaign, and Give our Streets the Green Light. BREAZE is also involved in events like Walk Against Warming, Earth Hour and the annual Sustainable House Tours.
BREAZE has been represented at state and national Climate Action Summits, meets with politicians and submits to relevant government consultations and enquiries. BREAZE has also initiated its own campaigns and competitions to reach out to various part of the community, including youngsters.
Strategy, partnerships and funding
To ensure it engages the whole community, BREAZE is strongly committed to political non-partisanship, but has developed strong partnerships with other organisations in the region. For example, BREAZE is a founding member of the Regional Sustainability Alliance Ballarat. What's more, several organisations have provided targeted grants, philanthropic funding and sponsorship for BREAZE staff positions and events.
The group identifies its success as being able to provide practical, straightforward things people can do to play their part for the environment and contribute to a new sustainable way of living.
BREAZE looks at the ‘how and why’ of its community activities, to understand and continue its success. For example, it has joined with other local groups in the 'A Climate of Change' project, which evaluates and reports on how well BREAZE supports its members in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and helping the Ballarat community contribute to a zero-emissions future. The project produced a series of key recommendations which fed into the annual review of BREAZE’s strategic plan.
BREAZE has been endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). This means donors can claim income tax deductions for their donations to BREAZE.
BREAZE recently reviewed its governance structures and looked at whether its trading activities impinge on its DGR status. It has since set up a trading arm, Enterprises Pty. Ltd. in which its retailing activities will sit and help generate funds to support the organisation's wider activities.
Challenges
- Staying strongly connected to the volunteer base of the organisation now it has employees.
- Maintaining relevance and attractiveness to its members.
- Focusing on strategic priorities to reach zero emissions by 2020.
- Establishing and growing a sustainable social enterprise arm, BREAZE Enterprises, to support its educational and emissions-reduction activities.
More information
BREAZE Toolkit for Groups[link]
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