Net Zero Channel (NZC) is a group of like-minded residents from the communities along the D’Entrecastreaux Channel south of Hobart, Tasmania, as well as from the wider Kingborough municipality and beyond. We established NZC in 2022 with the goal of helping to reduce our community carbon footprint. Read about our cause and NZC in this 2024 article by Peter Boyer.

Since Ashton Hayes’ early start in 2007, global recognition of the need to reduce carbon emissions has exploded, led in Australia by Rewiring Australia, founded by inventor, scientist and author Saul Griffith. NZC is now a partner in Rewiring Australia’s Electrify My Community, a national project to maximise the use of our clean and green energy and Electrify Everything!

Our goal at Net Zero Channel is to achieve net zero emissions in the Channel region of Southern Tasmania by encouraging residents of the Channel to embrace Saul’s philosophy and to save heaps of money in the process.

Early Work (2022-23)

The idea of a community project similar to Ashton Hayes was discussed at a KCA (Kettering Community Association) meeting in November 2021 where there was agreement about the impacts of climate change and the frustration at an individual’s ability to affect to affect change. This led to a group of KCA members presenting the NZC concept to a community meeting in May 2022. Almost 100 residents attended and overwhelmingly supported the proposal: ‘That the Net Zero Channel team should continue with its aim of assisting our community to reduce its carbon footprint’.

Net Zero Channel Kicks Off

By the time of the Kickoff event, the team had grown to 12, with members from Kettering, Coningham and Margate. Initial funding was provided by a Kingborough Council grant with the aim of delivering three public events. These were:

Electrikhana - Located on Snug Oval, this show offered the opportunity of a ride in an electric vehicle, using a wide variety of locally owned EVs, supplied and driven by their owners. Despite the damp, cold weather, this was a huge success and attracted over 450 visitors.

Net Zero in Conversation – a world-café style event where 60 local residents were asked to identify the information and/or events that would assist them to reduce their carbon footprints.

Net Zero Houses – over 90 local residents met in Kettering Hall where owners of local, low-energy homes described the energy-saving features and benefits of their homes, topped off with a presentation and recommendations from a professional energy consultant. 

By mid-2023, these events were complete and NZC had become an Incorporated Association, with over 50 members and a mailing list of over 350. 

 Where Next ?

 Net Zero Channel is now a partner in Rewiring Australia’s national project ‘Electrify my Community’, explained in more detail here.

Watch an interview with Saul Griffith about the need to Electrify Everything.

Read the material on our website with answers to the question Why Electrify?

Participate in Net Zero Channel by completing our survey and becoming a member!