NT energy efficiency LIEEPing ahead

Energy efficiency retrofits are underway in the Gove Peninsula region, at the northeastern corner of Arnhem Land, of as part of the Manymak Energy Efficiency Project.

The Manymak project, which is funded through the Australian Governmentโ€™s Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (LIEEP), identifies barriers to energy efficiency in low-income Indigenous households and assists these households to use energy more efficiently.

Sam Latz, project manager at Power and Water Corporation โ€“ a partner of the Manymak project โ€“ said the energy efficiency retrofits directed at the homes of Yolngu people in East Arnhem Land were relevant and achievable.

โ€œThese retrofits include oven timers, solar and heat pump hot water systems and ceiling insulation, and are currently being installed in Yirrkala and Gunyangara,โ€ he said.

โ€œThe hot water upgrades could reduce energy costs by around $30 per week for the typical busy household and the ceiling insulation can help save $7 per week during the wet season. For example, for a busy East Arnhem Yolngu household with nine people using hot water regularly, an electric hot water system could cost up to $45 a week. Replacing this with an equivalent solar or heat pump hot water system means costs are reduced to around $11.”

A total of 440 homes in East Arnhem Land will receive energy saving upgrades through the project in the next 12 months.ย The first set of installations is being carried out by Gove-based contractors, secured and project managed through the Gove office of the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure on behalf of the project partners.

Manymak Energy Efficiency Project is also known as dharray manymakkung pawaw ga gapuw, a phrase in the Yolngu Matha language meaning โ€œlooking after our power and our waterโ€. The project partners are Power and Water Corporation, Bushlight, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory Department of Housing and East Arnhem Regional Council.

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