What we do

Central Victoria Solar City aims to help the Central Victorian community rethink the way it uses energy.  The project has developed a number of products and services that can help householders, businesses, community centres, schools and hospitals in the region to reduce their energy use and/or transition towards more renewable energy sources.  All of these products and services are monitored through research.

All household project participants are asked to take part in vital research on energy use. The research data collected will be used to help form future Australian energy policy and assist householders in better managing their energy use.  By participating in this research participants can help contribute towards a more sustainable Australian future.

The research hopes to answer the following questions:

• What influence does technological, behavioural, social and economic factors have on energy consumption?
• What is the influence of these factors on household adoption of solar energy technologies?
• How do demographic, geographic and attitudinal characteristics influence the use of technological interventions and the demand for power?
• Which combinations of measures provide the best cost route to achieving the most carbon efficient energy consumption for given levels of wellbeing?
• What are the characteristics of a predictive macro model that explain the impact of household demand and supply management on future energy use and carbon emissions?
• How can results from such programs be effectively communicated to users?