How you can take action on climate change

Get solar for your home

Installing a solar system is a great way to reduce your energy bills and join your community in making the shift to renewables.

We’ve partnered with Solar Savers to help you install solar. Solar Savers is a council-supported program to help you apply for rebates, interest-free loans and work with a trusted installer.

For residents on a low income, Council could pay up to $3,000 towards the installation of the solar panels on your home.

Find out more on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

Go all-electric

Heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, cars – everything powered by solar electricity is cheaper and cleaner to run.

If you have solar or know someone who does, you’ve heard how satisfying it is to pay zero or minimal bills. It makes sense to switch every appliance over to electric to make the most of these gains.

But an all-electric home isn’t just for those with solar. Everyone can enjoy the leaps in energy efficiency that electric appliances have taken over the past few years. That’s cheaper heating, cooling, hot water, and cooking.

Choose electric when your appliances need replacing and plan ahead where you can, so you know what you want to install when you need to.

Moving to electricity improves indoor air quality, too. It’s a safer energy choice for your household.

Find out more on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

Join a local group

There are many environmental and climate change organisations at work in Merri-bek. These groups look at things like caring for our local creeks, managing community gardens, creating environmental education opportunities, advocating for climate action, and more.

You can find a list of local organisations on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

Use environmentally friendly transport

Riding your bike, walking, or catching public transport helps to reduce air pollution and carbon emissions. We also have electric vehicle charging stations across Merri-bek which are free to use and powered by renewable energy.

You can find out different ways you can adopt active or zero emissions transport on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

Reduce waste

You can find advice and Council initiatives that will help you move toward zero waste on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

This includes information about:

avoiding waste
joining a composting community
using food waste collection services
using waste and recycling services
finding opportunities to repair, reuse, borrow and swap items
joining Sharewaste or finding a compost hub
running a litter collection event
becoming a plastic wise sports club
accessing subsidies for schools and early learning centres

You can find out more about each of these areas on our Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

Reduce your business's energy bills

We offer Environmental Upgrade Finance (EUF) for businesses that want to make building upgrades. This is a long-term, low-interest loan to upgrade a building. The loan is administered by your Council.

You can find out more on our Making your business sustainable page.