From modest beginnings three years ago, Electrify Bouddi volunteers have learnt much about how to engage and empower the community to take practical steps to cut energy bills and carbon emissions. We have discovered that harnessing the passion of people wanting to make a difference, working with existing networks across our small community, can achieve significant results.
Central Coast Energy Action is about encouraging other communities throughout the Central Coast region to follow this example, so that the 150,000 Central Coast households have access to trusted sources of information and guidance on electrification and energy-efficient upgrades.
The ambitious aim of this exciting three-year program is to build a network of community-led energy groups and initiatives that has the enduring capacity to serve the Central Coast. This will provide multiple benefits, including:
Central Coast Energy Action is one of 12 local initiatives in NSW selected for support under the NSW Government’s Community Energy Activation Program. The program was proposed and will be managed by Electrify Bouddi, a registered charity.
The program comprises the following five main streams that are designed to provide support for other groups on the Central Coast:
To help establish new local energy groups and initiatives across the Central Coast, we will provide training to volunteers that wish to be involved in establishing local groups similar to Electrify Bouddi. These may be community, environmental and civic representatives or committed individuals. We will run six regional workshops — four exploratory sessions, followed by two in-depth training sessions. An Advisory Group and Electrify Bouddi staff will mentor emerging groups to build a lasting and supportive regional network.
Building on Electrify Bouddi’s existing installer network, we will create a region-wide, quality-assured partnership system covering solar, batteries, heat pumps, insulation, shading, air conditioning, fans and induction cooking — helping households find reputable local providers with confidence. Supporting installers within the region is also good for local economies, providing jobs on the Coast.
A practical, step-by-step kit will be developed to help households plan staged electrification upgrades suited to their individual home and budget. This set of resources will be trialled on a small group of households first, with the intention for the resultant kit to be distributed Central Coast-wide through schools and community groups.
The Central Coast is a popular holiday destination with more than 5 million visitors spending over $1.3 billion each year. In the more popular localities, holiday homes represent up to 40% of dwellings. Holiday makers are increasingly looking for destinations with high eco credentials, yet holiday homes lag well behind owner-occupied housing on solar, batteries and heat pumps. We therefore intend to work with managing agents and the regional tourism industry to encourage holiday homeowners to invest in clean energy upgrades, saving them money while also increasing occupancy rates.
Trade fairs have proved highly effective in connecting households with providers in a low-pressure, trusted setting, where all householders can learn about energy options, compare products and services, ask questions, and reduce uncertainty before making household energy decisions. We will organise and promote Central Coast regional trade fairs in 2027 and 2028 to act as high-visibility, inclusive engagement points, supporting informed decision-making by households while strengthening local networks between community members, service providers, and trusted institutions.
In coming months, we will add more information to these pages. Our current priorities are:
Recruiting to fill paid positions under this program
Seeking volunteer households to help develop Home Energy Action Plan Kits
