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Homecare Staff Undertake Environmental Audits On Clients’ HomesPressure on the more vulnerable members of our community to keep up with the rising costs of power and water is mounting. Trying to introduce measures to reduce their carbon footprint may seem challenging too. By Latrobe City - 6th October 2010 - Back to News However, Latrobe City Council, in partnership with Environment Victoria and TRY Sustainable Solutions, is helping to strike the balance.
Latrobe City’s deputy mayor, Councillor Sandy Kam, said that over one hundred of Latrobe’s community care staff completed household sustainability training run by Environment Victoria.
"The newly-trained staff applied their skills in the homes of their aged and frail clients, and their clients with a disability. They provided simple advice on ways to reduce energy and water use, like reducing the temperature on the client’s hot water service or blocking draughts in their lounge room.
"The results have been impressive. As a result of changes made in the homes almost 8,000 kilolitres of water will be saved each year and annual emissions reductions of more than 270 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been achieved," Cr Kam said.
Environment Victoria project manager Charlie Davie said all this was achieved through some really simple measures.
"There are many small ways to achieve energy efficiency – turning appliances off at the socket, blocking draughts, washing with cold water. These sorts of things are easily achievable for everyone and do not cost anything. The home care staff could point out to the clients where they could be making the changes which would result in lower energy emissions.
"They also helped residents by arranging for TRY Sustainable Solutions to install free energy and water saving devices, like tap aerators, efficient showerheads and window pelmets, all paid for by Latrobe City Council and the Victorian Government," Mr Davie said.
Cr Kam said the program was a great example of how an environmental program could also help vulnerable people in the community.
"As energy and water prices increase we need to find ways to help people cope, and clearly the environmental benefits to this program are significant too," Cr Kam concluded.
After the successes achieved in the Latrobe Valley, the program is currently underway in Baw Baw Shire and South Gippsland Shire.
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Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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