The City of Greater Geelong has announced funding for three projects that use clean technology and support our move towards a circular economy where the impacts of production and consumption are reduced.
The three projects will share $50,000 in funding support as part of Council's $4.6 million Community Grants program.
The latest funding round will support one project that aims to fast track the electrification of homes and businesses, and two projects aiming to reduce the environmental impacts of concrete and asphalt.
The previous grant round in 2019 saw Capricorn Power, Deakin University, Focus Pty Ltd and Geelong Sustainability Group Inc. complete clean technology and circular economy projects that addressed stockpiled landfill, reduced household energy use, encouraged community solar production and the uptake of renewable energy.
The projects to receive funding include:
Fulton Hogan
Leading construction and roadworks company, Fulton Hogan, will use biochar sourced from agricultural and organic sites in Greater Geelong to test the viability of using biochar in cold mix asphalt products at their Lara plant.
The testing aims to reduce energy costs, create circular economy solutions to a waste product, and create a low-carbon pavement material.
BOOM Power Pty Ltd
The team behind the BOOM software-as-a-service platform are working with their ASX-listed strategic partner, Bill Identity (Bid), to accelerate the electrification of homes and businesses.
The project will develop the ability for households and Small to Medium Enterprises to upload an energy bill and receive a tailored proposal for electrifying their home or business.
The user will answer simple questions about their home or business and receive a tailored plan for electrification of their building, including solar, storage, hot water, heating and cooling, and electric vehicle (EV) charging points. The report will explain upfront the financed costs, financial savings and environmental benefits.
Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng) and Deakin University
North Geelong engineering firm, Austeng, and Deakin University will use crushed glass and industrial by-products to create a more sustainable alternative to cement-based concrete.
Mixing crushed glass with fly ash and slag, the project aims to develop a sustainable geopolymer concrete that meets performance standards for footpaths, pavements, and floor slabs.
Replacing cement with fly ash can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by between 30 and 50 per cent and make use of waste fly ash and glass.
Concrete is one of the most consumed materials in the world, second to water, and its production is responsible for 7 per cent of the world's CO2 emissions.
